-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, C1olM1d2TZ63U4uaXNvg6+uPH4WsKITMe53Icb65S8YKrCyreOtn75XKvtqEAlzl CzZYC//QPk0pSGHUBY9W9g== 0000065984-05-000266.txt : 20050804 0000065984-05-000266.hdr.sgml : 20050804 20050804140109 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000065984-05-000266 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 32 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20050630 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050804 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050804 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000202584 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 720752777 STATE OF INCORPORATION: AR FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-09067 FILM NUMBER: 05998791 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ECHELON ONE STREET 2: 1340 ECHELON PKWY CITY: JACKSON STATE: MS ZIP: 39213 BUSINESS PHONE: 601-368-5000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ECHELON ONE STREET 2: 1340 ECHELON PKWY CITY: JACKSON STATE: MS ZIP: 39213 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MIDDLE SOUTH ENERGY INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19860803 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000071508 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931] IRS NUMBER: 720273040 STATE OF INCORPORATION: LA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-05807 FILM NUMBER: 05998792 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 PERDIDO ST STREET 2: BLDG 505 CITY: NEW ORLEANS STATE: LA ZIP: 70112 BUSINESS PHONE: 504-670-3674 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 PERDIDO ST STREET 2: BLDG 505 CITY: NEW ORLEANS STATE: LA ZIP: 70112 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SERVICE INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000066901 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 640205830 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MS FISCAL YEAR END: 1204 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-31508 FILM NUMBER: 05998793 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 308 EAST PEARL STREET CITY: JACKSON STATE: MS ZIP: 39201 BUSINESS PHONE: 601-368-5000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 308 EAST PEARL STREET CITY: JACKSON STATE: MS ZIP: 39201 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MISSISSIPPI POWER & LIGHT CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY LOUISIANA INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000060527 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 720245590 STATE OF INCORPORATION: LA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-08474 FILM NUMBER: 05998794 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4809 JEFFERSON HGWY CITY: JEFFERSON STATE: LA ZIP: 70121 BUSINESS PHONE: 504-840-2734 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4809 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY CITY: JEFFERSON STATE: LA ZIP: 70121 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT CO /LA/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19960610 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY GULF STATES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000044570 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 740662730 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-27031 FILM NUMBER: 05998795 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 PINE ST CITY: BEAUMONT STATE: TX ZIP: 77701 BUSINESS PHONE: 409-838-6631 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 PINE ST CITY: BEAUMONT STATE: TX ZIP: 77701 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GULF STATES UTILITIES CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY CORP /DE/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000065984 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 721229752 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11299 FILM NUMBER: 05998797 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 639 LOYOLA AVE CITY: NEW ORLEANS STATE: LA ZIP: 70113 BUSINESS PHONE: 5045764000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 61000 CITY: NEW ORLEANS STATE: LA ZIP: 70161 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY CORP /FL/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940329 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY GSU HOLDINGS INC /DE/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940329 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MIDDLE SOUTH UTILITIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19890521 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY ARKANSAS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000007323 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 710005900 STATE OF INCORPORATION: AR FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-10764 FILM NUMBER: 05998796 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 425 WEST CAPITOL AVE STREET 2: 40TH FLOOR CITY: LITTLE ROCK STATE: AR ZIP: 72201 BUSINESS PHONE: 501-377-4000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: P O BOX 551 CITY: LITTLE ROCK STATE: AR ZIP: 72203 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 10-Q 1 a10q.htm

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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, 2005

 

OR

 

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

   
 

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

Commission
File Number

Registrant, State of Incorporation,
Address of Principal Executive Offices and Telephone Number

I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.

1-11299

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

72-1229752

1-10764

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
(an Arkansas corporation)
425 West Capitol Avenue, 40th Floor
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Telephone (501) 377-4000

71-0005900

1-27031

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

74-0662730

1-8474

ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
(a Louisiana corporation)
4809 Jefferson Highway
Jefferson, Louisiana 70121
Telephone (504) 840-2734

72-0245590

1-31508

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

64-0205830

0-5807

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
(a Louisiana corporation)
1600 Perdido Street, Building 505
New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
Telephone (504) 670-3674

72-0273040

1-9067

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

72-0752777

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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

X

No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934).

 

Yes

No

Entergy Corporation

Ö

 

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

 

Ö

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

 

Ö

Entergy Louisiana, Inc.

 

Ö

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

 

Ö

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

 

Ö

System Energy Resources, Inc.

 

Ö

Common Stock Outstanding

 

Outstanding at July 29, 2005

Entergy Corporation

($0.01 par value)

207,579,330

Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc. separately file this combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf. Each company reports herein only as to itself and makes no other representations whatsoever as to any other company. This combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q supplements and updates the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2004, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, filed by the individual registrants with the SEC, and should be read in conjunction therewith.

 

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
June 30, 2005

 

Page Number

   

Definitions

1

Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

4

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

8

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

11

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

19

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

21

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

22

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

24

 

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

26

 

Selected Operating Results

27

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

28

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

42

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

44

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

46

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

50

 

Income Statements

52

 

Statements of Cash Flows

53

 

Balance Sheets

54

 

Selected Operating Results

56

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

57

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

60

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

61

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

68

 

Income Statements

69

 

Statements of Cash Flows

71

 

Balance Sheets

72

 

Statements of Retained Earnings and Comprehensive Income

74

 

Selected Operating Results

75

Entergy Louisiana, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

76

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

79

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

80

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

86

 

Income Statements

87

 

Statements of Cash Flows

89

 

Balance Sheets

90

 

Selected Operating Results

92

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

93

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

95

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

96

Critical Accounting Estimates

100

 

Income Statements

102

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
June 30, 2005

 

Page Number

   
 

Statements of Cash Flows

103

 

Balance Sheets

104

 

Selected Operating Results

106

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

107

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

109

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

110

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

114

 

Income Statements

115

 

Statements of Cash Flows

117

 

Balance Sheets

118

 

Selected Operating Results

120

System Energy Resources, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

121

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

121

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

122

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

123

 

Income Statements

124

 

Statements of Cash Flows

125

 

Balance Sheets

126

Notes to Respective Financial Statements

128

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

140

Part II. Other Information

 
 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

141

 

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

142

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

142

 

Item 5. Other Information

144

 

Item 6. Exhibits

146

Signature

149

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

In this filing and from time to time, Entergy makes statements 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. Although Entergy believes that these forward-looking statements and the underlying assumptions are reasonable, it cannot provide assurance that they will prove correct. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy undertakes 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, and there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Some of those factors (in addition to others described elsewhere in this report and in subsequent securities filings) include:

  • resolution of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including various performance-based rate discussions and implementation of new Texas legislation, and other regulatory proceedings, including those related to Entergy's System Agreement and Entergy's utility supply plan
  • Entergy's ability to manage its operation and maintenance costs
  • the performance of Entergy's generating plants, and particularly the capacity factors at its nuclear generating facilities
  • prices for power generated by Entergy's unregulated generating facilities, the ability to hedge, sell power forward or otherwise reduce the market price risk associated with those facilities, including the Non-Utility Nuclear plants, the ability to meet credit support requirements, and the prices and availability of power Entergy must purchase for its utility customers
  • Entergy's ability to develop and execute on a point of view regarding prices of electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related commodities
  • changes in the financial markets, particularly those affecting the availability of capital and Entergy's ability to refinance existing debt, execute its share repurchase program, and fund investments and acquisitions
  • actions of rating agencies, including changes in the ratings of debt and preferred stock, and changes in the rating agencies' ratings criteria
  • changes in inflation, interest rates, and foreign currency exchange rates
  • Entergy's ability to purchase and sell assets at attractive prices and on other attractive terms
  • volatility and changes in markets for electricity, natural gas, uranium, and other energy-related commodities
  • changes in utility regulation, including the beginning or end of retail and wholesale competition, the ability to recover net utility assets and other potential stranded costs, the establishment of a regional transmission organization that includes Entergy's utility service territory, and the application of market power criteria by the FERC
  • changes in regulation of nuclear generating facilities and nuclear materials and fuel, including possible shutdown of nuclear generating facilities, particularly those in the northeastern United States
  • uncertainty regarding the establishment of interim or permanent sites for spent nuclear fuel storage and disposal
  • resolution of pending or future applications for license extensions or modifications of nuclear generating facilities
  • changes in law resulting from the new federal energy legislation, including the repeal of PUHCA
  • changes in environmental, tax, and other laws, including requirements for reduced emissions of sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, mercury, and other substances
  • the economic climate, and particularly growth in Entergy's service territory
  • variations in weather and the occurrence of hurricanes and other storms and disasters
  • advances in technology
  • the potential effects of threatened or actual terrorism and war
  • the effects of Entergy's strategies to reduce tax payments
  • the effects of litigation and government investigations
  • changes in accounting standards, corporate governance, and securities law requirements
  • Entergy's ability to attract and retain talented management and directors
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Page left blank intentionally)

 

 

DEFINITIONS

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

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

   

AFUDC

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

ALJ

Administrative Law Judge

ANO 1 and 2

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

APSC

Arkansas Public Service Commission

Board

Board of Directors of Entergy Corporation

Cajun

Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.

capacity factor

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

City Council or Council

Council of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana

CPI-U

Consumer Price Index - Urban

DOE

United States Department of Energy

domestic utility companies

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

EITF

FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force

Energy Commodity Services

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

Entergy

Entergy Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries

Entergy Corporation

Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Entergy-Koch

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

EPA

United States Environmental Protection Agency

EPDC

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

FASB

Financial Accounting Standards Board

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

firm liquidated damages

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

FSP

FASB Staff Position

Grand Gulf

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

GWh

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

Independence

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

IRS

Internal Revenue Service

ISO

Independent System Operator

kV

Kilovolt

kW

Kilowatt

kWh

Kilowatt-hour(s)

LDEQ

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

LPSC

Louisiana Public Service Commission

Mcf

One thousand cubic feet of gas

MMBtu

One million British Thermal Units

MPSC

Mississippi Public Service Commission

DEFINITIONS (Continued)

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

MW

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

MWh

Megawatt-hour(s)

Nelson Unit 6

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

Net debt ratio

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

Net MW in operation

Installed capacity owned or operated

Net revenue

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

Non-Utility Nuclear

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

NRC

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

NYPA

New York Power Authority

PPA

Purchased power agreement

production cost

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

PRP

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

PUCT

Public Utility Commission of Texas

PUHCA

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended

PURPA

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

Ritchie Unit 2

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

River Bend

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

SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission

SFAS

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards as promulgated by the FASB

SMEPA

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

spark spread

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

System Agreement

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

System Energy

System Energy Resources, Inc.

System Fuels

System Fuels, Inc.

TWh

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

unit-contingent

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

unit-contingent with
availability guarantees

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

DEFINITIONS (Concluded)

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

   

Unit Power Sales Agreement

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

UK

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

U.S. Utility

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

Waterford 3

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

weather-adjusted usage

Electric usage excluding the effects of deviations from normal weather

White Bluff

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

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Results of Operations

Entergy's consolidated earnings applicable to common stock for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

Second Quarter

Six Months Ended

Operating Segment

 

2005

 

2004

2005

2004

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Utility

 

$211,717 

 

$194,964 

$302,216 

$310,621 

Non-Utility Nuclear

 

58,277 

 

62,994 

136,242 

131,828 

Parent Company & Other Business
  Segments

 


16,156 

 


7,224 


19,688 


29,894 

Total

 

$286,150 

 

$265,182 

$458,146 

$472,343 

Entergy's income before taxes is discussed below according to the operating segments listed above. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements herein for more information concerning Entergy's operating segments and their financial results in 2005 and 2004.

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

U.S. UTILITY

The increase in earnings for the U.S. Utility for the second quarter 2005 compared to the second quarter 2004 from $195.0 million to $211.7 million was primarily due to higher net revenue partially offset by higher other operation and maintenance expenses and lower other income.

The decrease in earnings for the U.S. Utility for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 from $310.6 million to $302.2 million was primarily due to higher other operation and maintenance expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expenses, partially offset by higher net revenue and lower interest expenses.

Net Revenue

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy's measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the second quarter of 2005 to the second quarter of 2004.

  

 

Amount

  

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$1,100.6 

Price applied to unbilled sales

 

71.0 

Volume/weather

 

10.8 

Other

 

(1.6)

2005 net revenue

 

$1,180.8 

The price applied to unbilled sales variance resulted from an increase in the fuel cost component included in the price applied to unbilled sales. The increase in the fuel cost component is attributable to an increase in the price of natural gas, the nuclear refueling outage at Waterford 3, and the nuclear maintenance outages at River Bend. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to an increase in electricity usage totaling 161 GWh in the residential and commercial sectors.  Industrial sales volume declined primarily due to the loss to cogeneration, which had been expected, of one large customer.

Gross operating revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses

Gross operating revenues increased from $2.0 billion for the second quarter 2004 to $2.2 billion for the second quarter 2005. The increase includes an increase in fuel cost recovery revenues of $81.7 million resulting primarily from increases in the market prices of natural gas and purchased power. As such, this revenue increase is offset by increased fuel and purchased power expenses. The increases in the price applied to unbilled sales and volume/weather variances, discussed above, also contributed to the increase in gross operating revenues.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy's measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the six months ended June 30, 2005 to the six months ended June 30, 2004.

  

 

Amount

  

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$2,025.4 

Price applied to unbilled sales

 

55.5 

Deferred fuel cost revisions

 

15.5 

Rate refund provisions

 

7.5 

Volume/weather

 

(15.8)

Other

 

2.3 

2005 net revenue

 

$2,090.4 

The price applied to unbilled sales variance resulted from an increase in the fuel cost component included in the price applied to unbilled sales. The increase in the fuel cost component is attributable to an increase in the price of natural gas, the nuclear refueling outage at Waterford 3, and the nuclear maintenance outages at River Bend. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The deferred fuel cost revisions variance is due to a revised estimate of fuel costs filed for recovery at Entergy Arkansas in the March 2004 energy cost recovery rider, which reduced net revenue in the first quarter of 2004 by $11.5 million. The remainder of the variance is due to the 2004 energy cost recovery true-up, made in the first quarter of 2005, which increased net revenue by $4.0 million.

The rate refund provisions variance is due primarily to accruals recorded in 2004 for potential rate action at Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Gulf States. Included in the current period variance are provisions recorded at Entergy Louisiana in 2005 as a result of LPSC-approved settlements in March 2005 and May 2005. The settlements are discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

The volume/weather variance resulted from decreased usage by residential customers and a decrease in usage during the unbilled sales period. Industrial sales volume was relatively unchanged as the loss to cogeneration, which had been expected, of one large customer was offset by an increase in usage by other customers, primarily in the chemical industry.  See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

Gross operating revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses

Gross operating revenues increased from $3.8 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2004 to $4.0 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2005. The increase includes an increase in fuel cost recovery revenues of $151 million resulting primarily from increases in the market prices of natural gas and purchased power. As such, this revenue increase is offset by increased fuel and purchased power expenses. The increase in the price applied to unbilled sales, discussed above, also contributed to the increase in gross operating revenues.

Other Income Statement Variances

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $391.7 million for the second quarter 2004 to $432.6 million for the second quarter 2005 primarily due to:

  • an increase of $17.9 million in payroll and benefits costs;
  • an increase of $9.1 million in nuclear expenses for contract and material costs associated with maintenance outages and timing of payroll related expenses; and
  • an increase of $5.1 million in estimated loss provisions recorded for the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the domestic utility companies.

Other income decreased from $30.5 million for the second quarter 2004 to $20.1 million for the second quarter 2005 primarily due to:

  • a decrease of $10.1 million at Entergy Gulf States due to a reduction in 2004 in the loss provision for an environmental clean-up site; and
  • a decrease of $7.1 million at Entergy Louisiana due to the write-off in June 2005 of a portion of the customer care system investment and the related allowance for equity funds used during construction pursuant to an LPSC-approved settlement.

The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $6.2 million in interest and dividend income primarily due to higher interest on temporary cash investments.

Interest on long-term debt decreased from $97.6 million for the second quarter 2004 to $91.2 million for the second quarter 2005 primarily due to the net retirement of $319 million of long-term debt at the domestic utility companies in 2004. Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K and Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements herein for details of long-term debt.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $723 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 to $798 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 primarily due to:

  • an increase of $33.3 million in payroll and benefits costs;
  • an increase of $13.2 million in nuclear expenses for contract and material costs associated with maintenance outages and timing of payroll related expenses;
  • an increase of $8.1 million in fossil expenses as a result of additional planned off-peak fossil generation maintenance outages; and
  • an increase of $5.1 million in estimated loss provisions recorded for the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the domestic utility companies.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased from $385.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 to $398.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 due primarily to an increase in plant in service.

Other income, which was $45.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and $45.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004, includes the following:

  • a decrease of $10.1 million at Entergy Gulf States due to a reduction in 2004 in the loss provision for an environmental clean-up site;
  • a decrease of $7.1 million at Entergy Louisiana due to the write-off in June 2005 of a portion of the customer care system investment and the related allowance for equity funds used during construction pursuant to an LPSC-approved settlement;
  • an increase of $10.6 million in interest and dividend income primarily due to higher interest on temporary cash investments; and
  • an increase of $9.8 million in the allowance for equity funds used during construction as a result of higher construction expenditures.

Interest on long-term debt decreased from $199.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 to $184.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 primarily due to the net retirement of $319 million of long-term debt at the domestic utility companies in 2004. Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K and Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements herein for details of long-term debt.

NON-UTILITY NUCLEAR

Following are key performance measures for Non-Utility Nuclear for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004:

 

 

Second Quarter

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net MW in operation at June 30

 

4,105

 

4,001

 

4,105

 

4,001

Generation in GWh for the period

 

8,156

 

8,196

 

16,422

 

16,882

Capacity factor for the period

 

90.9%

 

93.6%

 

92.1%

 

96.3%

Average realized price per MWh

 

$42.63

 

$41.33

 

$42.09

 

$40.49

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

The decrease in earnings for Non-Utility Nuclear from $63.0 million to $58.3 million was primarily due to higher operation and maintenance expenses resulting primarily from increased benefits costs and the effects of lower generation associated with planned and unplanned refueling and maintenance outages. Partially offsetting the decrease was an increase in revenues due to higher contract pricing.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

The increase in earnings for Non-Utility Nuclear from $131.8 million to $136.2 million was primarily due to miscellaneous income of $15.8 million net-of-tax resulting from a reduction in the decommissioning liability for a plant, as discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Also contributing to the increase in earnings was higher contract pricing. The increase in earnings was partially offset by the effects of lower generation associated with planned and unplanned refueling and maintenance outages and higher operation and maintenance expenses resulting primarily from increased benefits costs.

PARENT COMPANY & OTHER BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

The increase in earnings for Parent Company & Other Business Segments from $7.2 million to $16.2 million was primarily due to $14.4 million of tax benefits in 2005 from the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and an increase of $5.5 million from the non-nuclear wholesale assets business primarily due to lower operation and maintenance expenses and proceeds from the sale of SO2 allowances. The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $13.9 million due to the absence of earnings from Entergy's investment in Entergy-Koch because of the sale of Entergy-Koch's energy trading and pipeline businesses in the fourth quarter of 2004, as discussed in the Form 10-K.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

The decrease in earnings for Parent Company & Other Business Segments from $29.9 million to $19.7 million was primarily due to a decrease of $30.1 million due to the absence of earnings from Entergy's investment in Entergy-Koch due to the sale of Entergy-Koch's energy trading and pipeline businesses in the fourth quarter of 2004, as discussed in the Form 10-K. Also contributing to the decrease in earnings was the favorable settlement of a tax issue, which increased earnings by $11 million in the first quarter of 2004. The decrease was partially offset by $14.4 million of tax benefits in 2005 from the American Job Creations Act of 2004 and an increase of $14.1 million from the non-nuclear wholesale assets business primarily due to lower operation and maintenance expenses and proceeds from the sale of SO2 allowances.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 34.8% and 38.0%, respectively. The effective income tax rates for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were 34.8% and 36.0%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter and the six months ended June 30, 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to tax benefits from the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and investment tax credit amortization, partially offset by state income taxes and regulatory plant differences on utility plant items. Also contributing to the difference for the six months ended June 30, 2005 is a downward revision in the estimate of federal income tax expense related to tax depreciation. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter and the six months ended June 30, 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to state income taxes and regulatory plant differences on utility plant items, partially offset by the favorable settlement of a tax audit issue and investment tax credit amortization.

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.

The Form 10-K reported that Entergy expected to contribute $185.9 million in 2005 to its pension plans. Entergy has elected to make additional contributions, and now expects to contribute $253.3 million to its pension plans in 2005. Entergy contributed $117.7 million to its pension plans during the six months ended June 30, 2005.

Capital Structure

Entergy's capitalization is balanced between equity and debt, as shown in the following table. The increase in the debt to capital percentage as of June 30, 2005 is primarily the result of increased debt outstanding due to additional borrowings on Entergy Corporation's revolving credit facility along with a decrease in shareholders' equity, primarily due to repurchases of common stock, both of which are discussed below.

 

 

June 30,
2005

December 31, 2004

 

June 30,
2004

 

December 31, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt to net capital

 

48.7%

45.3%

 

45.6%

 

45.9%

Effect of subtracting cash from debt

 

1.9%

2.1%

 

1.8%

 

1.6%

Debt to capital

 

50.6%

47.4%

 

47.4%

 

47.5%

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

In May 2005, Entergy Corporation terminated its two, separate, revolving credit facilities, a $500 million five-year credit facility and a $965 million three-year credit facility. At that time Entergy Corporation entered into a $2 billion, five-year credit facility, which expires in May 2010. As of June 30, 2005, $635 million in borrowings were outstanding on this facility. Entergy also has the ability to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the credit facility, and letters of credit totaling $83.5 million had been issued against this facility at June 30, 2005. The total unused capacity for this facility as of June 30, 2005 was approximately $1.3 billion. The commitment fee for this facility is currently 0.13% per annum of the unused amount. Commitment fees and interest rates on loans under the credit facility can fluctuate depending on the senior debt ratings of the domestic utility companies.

Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans each have 364-day credit facilities available as follows:


Company

 


Expiration Date

 

Amount of
Facility

 

Amount Drawn as of
June 30, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

April 2006

 

$85 million (a)

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

April 2006

 

$85 million (a)

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

May 2006

 

$15 million (b)

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2006

 

$25 million

 

-

Entergy New Orleans

 

May 2006

 

$15 million (b)

 

-

(a)

The combined amount borrowed by Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Louisiana under these facilities at any one time cannot exceed $85 million.

(b)

The combined amount borrowed by Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans under these facilities at any one time cannot exceed $15 million.

See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion of Entergy's short-term credit facilities.

Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital

See the table in the Form 10-K under "Liquidity and Capital Resources - Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital," which sets forth the amounts of Entergy's planned construction and other capital investments by operating segment for 2005 through 2007.

In March 2005, Entergy Mississippi signed an agreement to purchase for $88 million the Attala power plant, a 480 MW natural gas-fired, combined-cycle generating facility owned by Central Mississippi Generating Company (CMGC). Entergy Mississippi plans to invest approximately $20 million in facility upgrades at the Attala plant plus $3 million in other costs, bringing the total capital cost of the project to approximately $111 million. The Attala plant will be 100 percent owned by Entergy Mississippi, and the acquisition is expected to close in late 2005 or early 2006. The purchase of the plant is contingent upon obtaining necessary approvals from various federal agencies, state permitting agencies, and the MPSC, including MPSC approval of investment cost recovery. In May and June 2005, Entergy Mississippi made filings at the MPSC to commence proceedings for MPSC approval both of the acquisition and of the investment cost recovery for the plant. Entergy Mississippi and CMGC had pre viously executed a purchased power agreement in July 2004 for 100 percent of the plant's output, and this agreement will expire upon the close of the acquisition or in March 2008, whichever occurs earlier. The planned construction and other capital investments table in the Form 10-K includes the estimated cost of the Attala acquisition as a 2006 capital commitment.

Cash Flow Activity

As shown in Entergy's Statements of Cash Flows, cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$620 

 

$507 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

 767 

 

929 

 

Investing activities

 

(698)

 

(484)

 

Financing activities

 

(74)

 

(392)

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(2)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(5)

 

51 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$615 

 

$558

Operating Activities

Entergy's cash flow provided by operating activities decreased by $162 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due a decrease at the U.S. Utility. The U.S. Utility provided $535 million in cash from operating activities in 2005 compared to providing $669 million in 2004. The decrease resulted primarily from an increase of $80 million in pension plan contributions, the $90 million refund to customers in the Louisiana jurisdiction made as a result of the global settlement, an increase of $72 million in income tax payments, and changes in the timing of fuel cost recovery compared to the prior period. These increased uses of cash were partially offset by various items, including the timing of receivable collections and vendor payments compared to the prior period. The Non-Utility Nuclear segment also contributed to the decrease. The Non-Utility Nuclear segment provided $235 million in cash from operating activities i n 2005 compared to providing $265 million in 2004. This decrease was caused primarily by nuclear refueling outage costs, as this business had one more refueling outage in the first half of 2005 than in the first half of 2004.

Investing Activities

Investing activities used $698 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to using $484 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to the following activity:

  • Construction expenditures were $44 million higher in 2005 than in 2004. The increase is in the U.S. Utility segment, and is primarily due to increases at Entergy Louisiana resulting from an increase in spending on transmission and nuclear projects and an increase of $19.8 million in capacity costs that have been deferred and are expected to be recovered over a period greater than twelve months.
  • The non-nuclear wholesale assets business received $22 million in 2004 from the sale of the Crete power plant.
  • Entergy Louisiana purchased the Perryville plant in June 2005 for $162.5 million. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this acquisition. In April 2005, the LPSC approved the acquisition and the long-term cost-of-service purchased power agreement under which Entergy Gulf States will purchase 75 percent of the plant's output.
  • The non-nuclear wholesale assets business received a return of invested capital of $34 million in 2005 from the Top Deer wind power joint venture after Top Deer obtained debt financing.
  • Entergy made an additional capital contribution of approximately $73 million to Entergy-Koch in 2004.
  • Approximately $60 million of the cash collateral for a letter of credit that secured the installment obligations owed to NYPA for the acquisition of the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 nuclear power plants was released to Entergy in 2004.
  • Entergy's net investment in temporary investments decreased by $188 million during the six months ended June 30, 2005 and decreased by $208 million during the six months ended June 30, 2004. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion regarding these investments.
  • The U.S. Utility used $64 million in 2005 and $31 million in 2004 for other regulatory investments as a result of fuel cost under-recovery. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the accounting treatment of these fuel cost under-recoveries.

 

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $74 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to using $392 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to the following activity:

  • Net issuances of long-term debt by the U.S. Utility segment provided $108 million during the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to retirements of long-term debt net of issuances using $253 million during the six months ended June 30, 2004. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for the details of long-term debt activity in 2005.
  • Entergy Corporation repurchased $640 million of its common stock during the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to $271 million during the six months ended June 30, 2004. See Part II, Item 2 herein and in the First Quarter 2005 Form 10-Q for details regarding Entergy Corporation's common stock repurchases in 2005.
  • Entergy Corporation increased the net borrowings on its credit facility by $585 million during the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to $255 million during the six months ended June 30, 2004. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for a description of the Entergy Corporation credit facility.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

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

State and Local Rate Regulation

See the Form 10-K for the chart summarizing material rate proceedings. Following are updates to that chart.

In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement resulted in credits totaling $76 million for retail electricity customers in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana service territory and credits totaling $14 million for retail electricity customers of Entergy Louisiana. The settlement dismissed Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth annual earnings reviews, Entergy Gulf States' ninth post-merger earnings review and revenue requirement analysis, the continuation of a fuel review for Entergy Gulf States, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all prudence issues associated with decisions made through May 2005 related to the nuclear plant uprates at issue in these cases, and an LPSC docket concerning retail i ssues arising under the System Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agreement case at FERC. In addition, Entergy Gulf States agreed not to seek recovery from customers of $2 million of excess refund amounts associated with the fourth through the eighth annual earnings reviews and Entergy Louisiana agreed to forgo recovery of $3.5 million of deferred 2003 capacity costs associated with certain power purchase agreements. The credits were issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana had reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

The settlement includes the establishment of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Gulf States that, among other provisions, establishes an ROE mid-point of 10.65% for the initial three-year term of the plan and permits Entergy Gulf States to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an allowed range of 9.9% to 11.4% will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Gulf States. In addition, there is the potential to extend the formula rate plan beyond the initial three-year effective period by mutual agreement of the LPSC and Entergy Gulf States. Under the settlement, there was no change to Entergy Gulf States' retail rates at that time.

In June 2005, the Alliance for Affordable Energy and an individual plaintiff filed an appeal in the 19th Judicial District Court for the parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The plaintiffs allege that neither Entergy Gulf States nor the LPSC published notice that a formula rate plan was to be considered as part of the settlement and that the LPSC order should be set aside as null and void and without effect because the Louisiana Constitution requires that notice be published when a utility files a proposed rate schedule that would result in a change in rates. Management believes the plaintiffs' claim is without merit and expects to intervene in the proceeding to oppose the appeal.

In June 2005, Entergy Gulf States made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the test year ending December 31, 2004. The filing shows a net revenue deficiency of $2.58 million indicating that no refund liability exists. The filing also indicates that a prospective rate increase of $23.8 million is required in order for Entergy Gulf States to earn the authorized ROE mid-point of 10.65%. Subject to the consideration of comments expected to be filed by the LPSC staff and intervenors in the third quarter 2005, rate changes associated with the formula rate plan are scheduled to take effect with the first billing cycle in October 2005.  Any disputed issues will be subject to further investigation by the LPSC, with any resolution of such issues being made effective October 2005.

Regarding Entergy Louisiana's January 2004 rate filing, in March 2005, the LPSC staff and Entergy Louisiana filed a proposed settlement that includes an annual base rate increase of approximately $18.3 million that was implemented, subject to refund, effective with May 2005 billings. In May 2005, the LPSC approved a modified settlement which, among other things, reduces depreciation and decommissioning expense due to assuming a life extension of Waterford 3 and results in no change in rates. Subsequently, in June 2005, Entergy Louisiana made a revised compliance filing with the LPSC supporting a revised depreciation rate for Waterford 3, which reflects the removal of interim additions, and a rate increase from the purchase of the Perryville power plant, which results in a net $0.8 million annual rate reduction. Entergy Louisiana reduced rates effective with the first billing cycle in June 2005 and expects to refund excess revenue collected during May 2005, including interest, in the third quarter of 2005.

The May 2005 rate settlement with the LPSC includes the adoption of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Louisiana, the terms of which include an ROE mid-point of 10.25% for the initial three-year term of the plan and permit Entergy Louisiana to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an allowed regulatory earnings range of 9.45% to 11.05% will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Louisiana. The initial formula rate plan filing will be in May 2006 based on a 2005 test year with rates effective September 2006. In addition, there is the potential to extend the formula rate plan beyond the initial three-year effective period by mutual agreement of the LPSC and Entergy Louisiana.

In July 2004, Entergy Gulf States filed with the LPSC an application for a change in its rates and charges seeking an increase of $9.1 million in gas base rates in order to allow Entergy Gulf States an opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable rate of return. In June 2005, the LPSC unanimously approved Entergy Gulf States' proposed settlement that includes a $5.8 million gas base rate increase effective the first billing cycle of July 2005 and a rate stabilization plan with an ROE mid-point of 10.5%.

Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT in July 2005 a request for implementation of an incremental purchased capacity recovery rider, consistent with the recently passed Texas legislation discussed below under "Utility Restructuring." The rider requests $23.1 million annually in incremental revenues on a Texas retail basis which represents the incremental purchased capacity costs, including Entergy Gulf States' obligation to purchase power from Entergy Louisiana's recently acquired Perryville plant, over what is already in Entergy Gulf States' base rates. Entergy Gulf States has reached an agreement with parties with respect to the date upon which cost recovery and cost reconciliation would begin.  The parties have agreed that Entergy Gulf States will implement the rider after approval by the PUCT which could be up to 185 days from the date of filing but will reconcile and recover incremental purchased capacity costs incurred beginn ing September 1, 2005. The September 1, 2005 agreed upon date for the beginning of the cost recovery and cost reconciliation as well as the requested amount and the processes for implementing the rider are subject to PUCT action and approval. If approved by the PUCT, the rider would be subject to semi-annual modifications and reconciliation in conjunction with Entergy Gulf States' fuel reconciliation proceedings. Also see "Utility Restructuring" below for discussion of the provisions in the Texas legislation regarding Entergy Gulf States' ability to file a general rate case and for recovery of transition to competition costs.

In May 2005, the MPSC approved a joint stipulation entered into between the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff and Entergy Mississippi regarding Entergy Mississippi's annual formula rate plan filing that provides for no change in rates based on a performance adjusted ROE mid-point of 10.50%, establishing an allowed regulatory earnings range of 9.1% to 11.9%.

In April 2005, Entergy New Orleans made its annual scheduled formula rate plan filings with the City Council.  The filings show that a decrease of $0.2 million in electric revenues is warranted and an increase of $3.9 million in gas revenues is warranted. The filings triggered the prescribed period for review by the City Council's Advisors and other parties, and rate adjustments, if any, could be implemented as soon as September 2005.

In May 2005, Entergy New Orleans filed with the City Council a request for continuation of the formula rate plan and generation performance-based rate plan for an additional three years. The filing requests a target equity component of the capital structure of 45%, an increase from the current target of 42%.

Federal Regulation

System Agreement Litigation

On June 1, 2005, the FERC issued a decision in the System Agreement litigation. The domestic utility companies historically have engaged in the coordinated planning, construction, and operation of generating and bulk transmission facilities under the terms of the System Agreement, which has been approved by the FERC. The System Agreement litigation proceedings are described in the Form 10-K.

The FERC decision concluded, among other things, that:

  • The System Agreement no longer roughly equalizes production costs among the domestic utility companies.
  • In order to reach rough production cost equalization, the FERC will impose a bandwidth remedy allowing for a maximum spread of 22 percent (expressed by the FERC as +/- 11%) between the total annual production costs of the highest cost and lowest cost domestic utility companies.
  • When calculating the production costs for this purpose, output from the Vidalia hydroelectric power plant will not reflect the actual Vidalia price for that year but will be priced at that year's average MSS-3 price, reducing the amount of Vidalia costs reflected in the comparison of the domestic utility companies' total production costs.
  • The remedy ordered by FERC calls for no refunds and would be effective based on the calendar year 2006 production costs with the first potential reallocation payments, if required, expected to be made in 2007.

The FERC's June 2005 order would reallocate production costs of the domestic utility companies whose relative total production costs expressed as a percentage of Entergy System average production costs are outside an upper or lower bandwidth. This would be accomplished by payments from domestic utility companies whose production costs are below Entergy System average production costs to domestic utility companies whose production costs are above Entergy System average production costs. An assessment of the potential effects of the FERC's June 2005 order requires assumptions regarding the future total production cost of each domestic utility company, which assumptions include the mix of solid fuel and gas-fired generation available to each company and the costs of natural gas and purchased power.  Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States are more dependent upon gas-fired generation than Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, or Entergy New Orleans. Of these, Entergy Arkansas is the l east dependent upon gas-fired generation.  Therefore, increases in natural gas prices likely will increase the amount by which Entergy Arkansas' total production costs are below the average production costs of the domestic utility companies.  Considerable uncertainty exists regarding future gas prices. Annual average Henry Hub gas prices have varied significantly over recent years, ranging from $1.72/mmBtu to $5.85/mmBtu for the 1995-2004 period, and averaging $3.43/mmBtu during the ten-year period 1995-2004 and $4.58/mmBtu during the five-year period 2000-2004.  Recent market conditions have resulted in gas prices that have averaged $5.85/mmBtu for the twelve months ended December 2004. During the 12 month period July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 forward gas contracts for each of the next four years based on daily NYMEX close averaged $6.68/mmBtu (2006), $6.25/mmBtu (2007), $5.88/mmBtu (2008) and $5.58/mmBtu (2009). If the FERC's June 2005 order becomes final and if these gas prices occur as assumed, the following potential annual production cost reallocations among the domestic utility companies could result during the 2007-2010 period:

 

Range of Annual Payments
or (Receipts)

 

Average Annual
Payment or (Receipt)

 

(In Millions)

       

Entergy Arkansas

$143 to $210 

 

$166 

Entergy Gulf States

($134) to ($87)

 

($113)

Entergy Louisiana

($71) to ($10)

 

($38)

Entergy Mississippi

($28) to $0 

 

($11)

Entergy New Orleans

($10) to $0 

 

($4)

If natural gas prices deviate by $1/mmBtu up or down, it is expected that Entergy Arkansas' annual payments will change in the same direction by approximately $60 to $70 million.

Various pending motions for rehearing and clarification of the FERC's June 2005 order were filed by parties to the proceeding, including the LPSC, the APSC, the MPSC, and the City Council, and by Entergy Services, Inc., on behalf of the domestic utility companies. Among other things, the LPSC's motion urged the FERC to "clarify" that the FERC's order requires the payments and receipts, to the extent any are required, to be made in 2006 based on production costs incurred in 2004 and 2005. Entergy does not believe that this request for "clarification" is consistent with the FERC order and submitted a response urging the FERC to reject this interpretation and instead find that the annual remedy order by the FERC would be evaluated based on calendar year 2006 production costs, with the first potential payments/receipts, if any were required, made in 2007.

 

Management believes that any changes in the allocation of production costs resulting from the FERC's June 2005 order and related retail proceedings should result in similar rate changes for retail customers. The timing of recovery of these costs in rates could be the subject of additional proceedings before Entergy's retail regulators. Although the outcome and timing of the FERC and other proceedings cannot be predicted at this time, Entergy does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

See the Form 10-K for discussion of the proceeding that the LPSC commenced before itself regarding the System Agreement. As noted above in "State and Local Rate Regulation," the settlement of various issues involving Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana that was approved by the LPSC has resolved the System Agreement proceeding before the LPSC, which has been dismissed without prejudice.

Transmission

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the petition for declaratory order that Entergy filed with the FERC in January 2005 regarding Entergy's Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT) proposal. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued a declaratory order concluding that: (1) because the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) was the only entity identified as potentially being selected as the ICT and because the SPP is already a "public utility" there was no need to rule on the question of whether the functions of the ICT, alone, would serve to make the ICT a "public utility;" (2) Entergy will continue to be the "transmission provider" for transmission service across its system and that "the presence of SPP as the ICT will not change the existing balance of jurisdiction between [the FERC] and Entergy's retail regulators;" and (3) the FERC "is prepared to grant Entergy's proposed transmission pricing proposal on a two-year experimental basis, subject to certain enhancement and monitoring and reporting co nditions." The enhancements referred to by the FERC involve more fully specifying the responsibilities and duties of the ICT, including defining the ICT's role in the preparation of various transmission expansion plans and the performance of studies related to the granting of transmission or interconnection service. Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal.

On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy.

On April 21, 2005 Entergy filed a request for clarification or rehearing of the FERC's March 22 declaratory order requesting that the FERC clarify the respective role of Entergy and the ICT in developing the inputs or criteria used to create the base plan and in preparing certain studies regarding system expansion. The request for clarification further requests that the FERC clarify that the initial two-year period will commence with the actual start date of ICT operations. In the event that the FERC denies Entergy's request for clarification, then Entergy will seek rehearing on these issues. However, in its request, Entergy requested that FERC not rule on these issues at this time but, instead, that the FERC wait to evaluate these issues until such time as Entergy has filed the more detailed tariff sheets and protocols in its subsequent filing to implement the ICT. Separately, Entergy submitted a letter advising the FERC that it intended to submit on or about May 27, 2005 the filing t o implement the ICT proposal. A joint request for rehearing of the ICT declaratory order was also filed by the City Council, the LPSC, and the MPSC in which the retail regulators expressed their concerns that the findings reached in the declaratory order may result in an expansion of authority of the ICT "that is unnecessary to achieve the [FERC's] goals and is very likely to result in significant increases in the start-up and operational costs of the ICT." The retail regulators request that the FERC not act on their request for rehearing until Entergy has submitted its filing to implement the ICT. The intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

On May 12, 2005 the FERC issued an order clarifying certain aspects of its March 22 order. In the May 12 order, the FERC indicated that (1) Entergy is to work with the ICT and Entergy's stakeholders to develop procedures by which the ICT will calculate AFCs; (2) Entergy must specifically define the transmission rights that a customer that pays for supplemental upgrades will receive for such payments; (3) the FERC will review the ICT's contract to ensure that the ICT can perform its functions in an independent manner even if SPP is chosen as the ICT; and (4) the initial two-year period will start once the ICT becomes operational.

On May 27, 2005, the domestic utility companies filed the enhanced ICT proposal with the FERC. Entergy believes that the filing is consistent with the FERC guidance received in both the FERC's March 22 and May 12 orders on the ICT. Among other things, the enhanced ICT filing states that the ICT will (1) grant or deny transmission service on the domestic utility companies' transmission system; (2) administer the domestic utility companies' OASIS node for purposes of processing and evaluating transmission service requests and ensuring compliance with the domestic utility companies' obligation to post transmission-related information; (3) develop a base plan for the domestic utility companies' transmission system that will result in the ICT making the determination on whether something should be rolled into the domestic utility companies' transmission rates or directly assigned to the customer requesting or causing an upgrade to be constructed; (4) serve as the reliability coordinator for t he Entergy transmission system; and (5) oversee the operation of the weekly procurement process. The enhanced ICT proposal clarifies the rights that customers receive when they fund a supplemental upgrade and also contains a detailed methodology describing the process by which the ICT will evaluate interconnection-related investments already made on the Entergy System for purposes of determining the future allocation of the uncredited portion of these investments.

On June 3, 2005 a group of generators filed with the FERC a request that the FERC schedule a technical conference on the enhanced ICT proposal in order for Entergy to provide additional information on the enhanced ICT proposal. In response, a stakeholder meeting was held in New Orleans on June 30, 2005. Interventions and comments on the filing are due by August 5, 2005.

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is currently scheduled for August 2005, however certain intervenors have recently requested that the hearing be delayed until mid-September 2005.

FERC's Supply Margin Assessment

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's supply margin assessment and, in particular, the order issued by the FERC in December 2004 pursuant to Section 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA).  On June 30, 2005, the FERC issued an order addressing Entergy's delivered price test (DPT) analysis.  The FERC found that material questions of fact exist that may affect the results of the DPT submitted by Entergy.  These issues include, for example, whether the entire Entergy control area is the appropriate relevant geographic market or whether there exist binding transmission constraints such that it is more appropriate to define more than one geographic market within the Entergy control area.  Accordingly, the FERC initiated an evidentiary hearing to address the impact of any transmission constraints on the appropriate scope of the relevant market; which information will be required prior to the FERC making a determination on whether Entergy has market power within its con trol area. On July 22, 2005, Entergy notified the FERC that it was withdrawing its request for market-based rate authority for sales within its control area. Instead, the domestic utility companies and their affiliates will transact at cost-based rates for wholesale sales within the Entergy control area. Entergy indicated that it will file the proposed cost-based rate schedules within 60 days. Additionally, Entergy reserves its right to request market-based rate authority for sales within its control area in the future. The FERC ALJ in the proceeding issued an order that cancelled a pre-hearing conference set for July 26, 2005, set a deadline of August 8, 2005 for objections to Entergy's notice of withdrawal, and stated that if no objections were filed by August 8, 2005 Entergy's withdrawal notice will have disposed of all pending issues in the proceeding. The relinquishment of market-based rates for sales within the Entergy control area is not expecte d to have a material effect on the financial results of Entergy.

Additionally, on May 5, 2005, the FERC issued an order addressing the remaining prongs in the market-based rate proceeding: transmission market power, barriers to entry/reciprocal dealing, and affiliate abuse.  The FERC granted rehearing in part and instituted a proceeding under Section 206 of the FPA to investigate whether Entergy satisfies the FERC's transmission market power and affiliate abuse/reciprocal dealing standards for the granting of market-based rate authority, and established a refund effective date pursuant to the provisions of Section 206, for purposes of the additional issues set for hearing.  However, the FERC decided to hold that investigation in abeyance pending the outcomes of the ICT proceeding and the affiliate purchased power agreements proceeding.  The FERC declined to require a hearing on the remaining prong regarding barriers to entry.  On June 6, 2005, Entergy sought rehearing of the May 5 Order and that request for rehearing is pending .

Interconnection Orders

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the ALJ Initial Decision and FERC order directing Entergy Louisiana to refund, in the form of transmission credits, approximately $15 million in expenses and tax obligations previously paid by a generator. Entergy's request for rehearing was denied by the FERC.

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of proceedings at the FERC involving Entergy's Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued an order contemporaneously with the ICT declaratory order discussed above that holds the AFC hearing in abeyance pending action on Entergy's upcoming ICT filing. The order holding the hearing in abeyance further indicated that it would cancel the hearing when the ICT begins to perform its functions. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed Emergency Motions for Interim Relief and Expedited Commission Action requesting that, during the interim period before the implementation of the ICT, the FERC (1) institute an audit process to examine and modify Entergy's current AFC process; and (2) require SPP to become involved in the AFC stakeholder process and order certain modifications to Entergy's stakeholder process. The audit process being proposed by the intervenors would not involve an independent auditor, but instead wou ld be an investigation performed by a representative from the intervenors, Entergy, and possibly SPP.  On April 25, 2005, Entergy filed its response to the emergency motion urging the FERC to reject the intervenors' request for the "audit" because the type of investigation proposed by the intervenors would be neither independent nor fair and would only distract from the implementation of the ICT.  Instead, Entergy has proposed that the ICT conduct an independent review of the AFC process and procedures as part of its transition to assuming the identified ICT responsibilities, including the calculation of the AFCs.  Entergy further indicated that it would welcome SPP's participation in the current stakeholder process. On April 21, 2005, the intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing arguing that the FERC must allow the AFC hearing to proceed in parallel with the establishment of the ICT. See "Transmission" above for further discussion of AFC.

Utility Restructuring

Previous developments and information related to electric industry restructuring are presented in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. The following are updates to the Form 10-K.

Retail-Texas

In June 2005, a Texas law was enacted which provides that:

  • Entergy Gulf States is authorized by the legislation to proceed with a jurisdictional separation into two vertically integrated utilities, one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the LPSC and one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the PUCT;
  • the portions of all prior PUCT orders requiring Entergy Gulf States to comply with any provisions of Texas law governing transition to retail competition are void;
  • Entergy Gulf States must file a plan by January 1, 2006, identifying the power region(s) to be considered for certification and the steps and schedule to achieve certification;
  • Entergy Gulf States must file a transition to competition plan no later than January 1, 2007, that would address how Entergy Gulf States intends to mitigate market power and achieve full customer choice, including potential construction of additional transmission facilities, generation auctions, generation capacity divestiture, reinstatement of a customer choice pilot project, establishment of a price to beat, and other measures;
  • Entergy Gulf States' rates are subject to cost-of-service regulation until retail customer choice is implemented;
  • Entergy Gulf States may not file a general base rate case in Texas before June 30, 2007, with rates effective no earlier than June 30, 2008, but may seek before then the recovery of certain incremental purchased power capacity costs, adjusted for load growth, not in excess of five percent of its annual base rate revenues (as discussed above in "State and Local Regulation," in July 2005 Entergy Gulf States filed a request for implementation of an incremental purchased capacity recovery rider); and
  • Entergy Gulf States may recover over a period not to exceed 15 years reasonable and necessary transition to competition costs incurred before the effective date of the legislation and not previously recovered, with appropriate carrying charges.

Retail-Louisiana

In November 2001, the LPSC decided not to move forward with retail open access for any customers at this time. The LPSC instead directed its staff to hold collaborative group meetings concerning open access from time to time, and to have the LPSC staff monitor developments in neighboring states and to report to the LPSC regarding the progress of retail access developments in those states. In September 2004, in response to a study performed by the Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies that evaluated a limited industrial-only retail choice program, the LPSC asked the LPSC staff to solicit comments and obtain information from utilities, customers, and other interested parties concerning the potential costs and benefits of a limited choice program, the impact of such a program on other customers, as well as issues such as stranded costs and transmission service.  Comments from interested parties were filed with the LPSC in Janua ry 2005. A technical conference was held in April 2005 and in May 2005 interested parties filed reply comments to arguments made at the technical conference. Entergy stated that it believes that there is no new information or credible evidence that would justify altering the LPSC's previous conclusion that retail access is not in the public interest.

Federal Legislation

In late July 2005 the U.S. Congress passed broad new energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The legislation contains electricity provisions that, among other things:

  • Repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA), effective six months after enactment of the Energy Policy Act. As a registered holding company system, Entergy is subject to PUHCA. Some of the more significant effects of PUHCA are that it limits the operations of a registered holding company system to a single, integrated public utility system; regulates transactions among affiliates within a holding company system; governs the issuance, acquisition, and disposition of securities and assets by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries; limits the entry by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries into businesses other than electric or gas utility businesses; and requires SEC approval for certain utility mergers and acquisitions. Certain consumer protection authorities were transferred to the FERC, including new authority over utility mergers and acquisitions, and to the state or local regulatory commissions.
  • Codifies the concept of participant funding, a form of cost allocation for transmission interconnections and upgrades, and allows FERC to apply participant funding in all regions of the country. Participant funding helps ensure that a utility's native load customers only bear the costs that are necessary to provide reliable transmission service to them and not bear costs required by generators who seek to deliver power to other regions.
  • Provides financing benefits, including loan guarantees and production tax credits, for new nuclear plant construction, and reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act, the law that provides an umbrella of insurance protection for the payment of public liability claims in the event of a major nuclear power plant incident.
  • Revises current tax law treatment of nuclear decommissioning trust funds by allowing regulated and nonregulated taxpayers to make deductible contributions to fund the entire amount of estimated future decommissioning costs.
  • Provides a more rapid tax depreciation schedule for transmission ass ets to encourage investment.
  • Creates mandatory electricity reliability guidelines with enforceable penalties to help ensure that the nation's power transmission grid is kept in good repair and that disruptions in the electricity system are minimized.  Entergy already voluntarily complies with National Electricity Reliability Council standards, which are similar.
  • Establishes conditions for the elimination of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act's (PURPA) mandatory purchase obligation from qualifying facilities.

The President is expected to sign the Energy Policy Act in August 2005. The Energy Power Act requires several rulemakings by the FERC and other government agencies in order to implement its provisions. Therefore, it will be some time before a full assessment of its effect on Entergy and the energy industry can be completed.

Market and Credit Risks

Commodity Price Risk

As discussed in the Form 10-K, some of the agreements to sell the power produced by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear power plants and the wholesale supply agreements entered into by Entergy's Competitive Retail business contain provisions that require an Entergy subsidiary to provide collateral to secure its obligations under the agreements. The Entergy subsidiary may be required to provide collateral based upon the difference between the current market and contracted power prices in the regions where the Non-Utility Nuclear and Competitive Retail businesses sell power. The primary form of the collateral to satisfy these requirements would be an Entergy Corporation guaranty.  Cash and letters of credit are also acceptable forms of collateral.  At June 30, 2005, based on power prices at that time, Entergy had in place as collateral $922.7 million of Entergy Corporation guarantees, $81.0 million of which support letters of credit. In the event of a decrease in Entergy Corpo ration's credit rating to specified levels below investment grade, Entergy may be required to replace Entergy Corporation guarantees with cash or letters of credit under some of the agreements.

Central States Compact Claim

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 holds each state responsible for disposal of low-level radioactive waste originating in that state, but allows states to participate in regional compacts to fulfill their responsibilities jointly.  Arkansas and Louisiana participate in the Central Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact (Central States Compact or Compact).  Commencing in 1998, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana made a series of contributions to the Central States Compact to fund the Central States Compact's development of a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility to be located in Boyd County, Nebraska.  In December 1998, Nebraska, the host state for the proposed Central States Compact disposal facility, denied the compact's license application for the proposed disposal facility.  Several parties, including the commission that governs the compact (the Compact Commission), filed a lawsuit against Nebraska seeking damages resulting from Nebraska's denial of the proposed facility's license.  After a trial, the U.S. District Court concluded that Nebraska violated its good faith obligations regarding the proposed waste disposal facility and rendered a judgment against Nebraska in the amount of $151 million.  In August 2004, Nebraska agreed to pay the Compact $141 million in settlement of the judgment. In July 2005, the Compact Commission decided to distribute a substantial portion of the proceeds from the settlement to the nuclear power generators that had contributed funding for the Boyd County facility, including Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana. On August 1, 2005, Nebraska paid the full amount of the settlement to the Compact, and the Compact distributed from the settlement proceeds $23.6 million to Entergy Arkansas, $19.9 million to Entergy Gulf States, and $18.4 million to Entergy Louisiana.  Management is still analyzing the accounting treatment of the receip ts, but expects that some portion of the receipts could result in income for Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana.

Critical Accounting Estimates

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

Nuclear Decommissioning Costs

In the first quarter of 2005, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business recorded a reduction of $26.0 million in its decommissioning cost liability in conjunction with a new decommissioning cost study as a result of revised decommissioning costs and changes in assumptions regarding the timing of when the decommissioning of a plant will begin. The revised estimate resulted in miscellaneous income of $26.0 million ($15.8 million net-of-tax), reflecting the excess of the reduction in the liability over the amount of undepreciated asset retirement cost.

In the second quarter of 2005, Entergy Louisiana recorded a revision to its estimated decommissioning cost liability in accordance with a new decommissioning cost study for Waterford 3 that reflected an expected life extension for the plant. The revised estimate resulted in a $153.6 million reduction in its decommissioning liability, along with a $49.2 million reduction in utility plant and a $104.4 million reduction in the related regulatory asset.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter 2005, FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, "Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143" (FIN 47). FIN 47 requires companies to recognize at fair value a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred, which is generally upon an asset's acquisition, construction, development, or through its normal operation. A conditional asset retirement obligation is generally a legal obligation to incur costs to remove an asset or part of an asset, such as an obligation to comply with environmental regulations and requirements. The obligation is conditional because there is currently no legal requirement to retire or remove the facility that the affected asset is a part of. FIN 47 requires that uncertainty about the timing or method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information becomes available. FIN 4 7 will be effective for Entergy no later than December 31, 2005. Entergy does not believe that the adoption of FIN 47 will be material to its financial position or results of operations because it estimates that any conditional asset retirement obligations required to be recognized under FIN 47 would be offset by a regulatory asset because of the expected recovery of these future costs in rates.

 

 

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ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
           
                 
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    2005   2004   2005   2004
    (In Thousands, Except Share Data)
                 
OPERATING REVENUES                
Domestic electric   $2,124,134    $1,952,049    $3,868,516    $3,653,377 
Natural gas   43,660    38,146    130,610    121,962 
Competitive businesses   541,725    494,902    1,033,806    961,307 
TOTAL   2,709,519    2,485,097    5,032,932    4,736,646 
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Operating and Maintenance:                
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and                
   gas purchased for resale   474,203    488,368    1,054,284    1,038,495 
  Purchased power   739,786    555,439    1,239,565    1,004,959 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   39,150    39,099    78,960    80,706 
  Other operation and maintenance   599,575    567,746    1,134,239    1,068,997 
Decommissioning   36,525    37,098    73,524    75,446 
Taxes other than income taxes   107,465    103,283    210,454    200,585 
Depreciation and amortization   213,902    215,640    438,079    426,289 
Other regulatory credits - net   (30,697)   (15,888)   (47,462)   (31,977)
TOTAL   2,179,909    1,990,785    4,181,643    3,863,500 
                 
OPERATING INCOME   529,610    494,312    851,289    873,146 
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   11,164    8,016    24,049    15,479 
Interest and dividend income   34,756    25,823    65,646    54,074 
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates   2,158    20,288    (35)   40,107 
Miscellaneous - net   (11,333)   13,571    14,469    18,740 
TOTAL   36,745    67,698    104,129    128,400 
                 
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES                 
Interest on long-term debt   109,299    116,211    220,052    235,672 
Other interest - net   14,058    13,563    26,222    19,778 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (6,181)   (4,970)   (13,690)   (10,124)
TOTAL   117,176    124,804    232,584    245,326 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   449,179    437,206    722,834    756,220 
                 
Income taxes   156,390    166,195    251,425    272,192 
                 
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME   292,789    271,011    471,409    484,028 
                 
Preferred dividend requirements and other   6,639    5,829    13,263    11,685 
                 
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO                
COMMON STOCK   $286,150    $265,182    $458,146    $472,343 
                 
Earnings per average common share:                
  Basic   $1.36    $1.16    $2.15    $2.06 
  Diluted   $1.33    $1.14    $2.11    $2.02 
Dividends declared per common share   $0.54    $0.45    $1.08    $0.90 
                 
Average number of common shares outstanding:                
  Basic   211,134,467    228,714,654    212,622,976    229,489,646 
  Diluted   215,568,534    232,775,049    217,091,580    234,007,635 
                 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                
                 
                 

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
         
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
   
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Consolidated net income   $471,409    $484,028 
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow        
provided by operating activities:        
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments   (73,803)   2,407 
  Other regulatory credits - net   (47,462)   (31,977)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   511,603    501,735 
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   95,985    138,574 
  Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates - net of dividends   35    (13,824)
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   (129,074)   (184,375)
    Fuel inventory   13,246    (22,592)
    Accounts payable   (25,284)   33,120 
    Taxes accrued   74,540    111,393 
    Interest accrued   (18,118)   (18,811)
    Deferred fuel   (97,100)   1,911 
    Other working capital accounts   (54,588)   23,352 
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   10,272    (2,239)
  Changes in other regulatory assets   25,234    4,217 
  Other   10,176    (97,849)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   767,071    929,070 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction/capital expenditures   (639,651)   (595,618)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   24,049    15,479 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (184,445)   (100,229)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   125,680    61,694 
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses     21,978 
Payment for purchase of plant   (162,075)  
Investment in non-utility properties     (8,442)
Decrease (increase) in other investments   63,193    (11,071)
Purchases of other temporary investments   (1,591,025)   (376,100)
Liquidation of other temporary investments   1,778,975    583,600 
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized change in trust assets   (48,527)   (44,588)
Other regulatory investments   (63,800)   (30,696)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (697,626)   (483,993)
         
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.        
         
         
         
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
         
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of:        
  Long-term debt   637,215    272,977 
  Preferred stock   30,000   
  Common stock and treasury stock   89,868    107,840 
Retirement of long-term debt   (531,919)   (539,779)
Repurchase of common stock   (639,820)   (271,237)
Redemption of preferred stock   (2,250)   (2,250)
Changes in credit line borrowings - net   584,850    255,000 
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (229,353)   (202,349)
  Preferred stock   (13,261)   (11,913)
Net cash flow used in financing activities   (74,670)   (391,711)
         
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents   129    (2,401)
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (5,096)   50,965 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   619,786    507,433 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $614,690    $558,398 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $250,302    $259,674 
  Income taxes   $83,688    $25,729 
         

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $104,992    $79,136 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   509,698    540,650 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   614,690    619,786 
Other temporary investments   -    187,950 
Notes receivable   2,051    3,092 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   415,382    435,191 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (21,979)   (23,758)
  Other   368,400    342,289 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   597,361    460,039 
     Total receivables   1,359,164    1,213,761 
Deferred fuel costs   223,980    85,911 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   8,303    76,899 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   114,005    127,251 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   579,375    569,407 
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   159,484    107,782 
Prepayments and other   117,862    116,279 
TOTAL   3,178,914    3,108,118 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   168,040    231,779 
Decommissioning trust funds   2,543,275    2,453,406 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   224,545    219,717 
Other   76,158    90,992 
TOTAL   3,012,018    2,995,894 
         
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT        
Electric   29,710,868    29,053,340 
Property under capital lease   732,583    738,554 
Natural gas   276,874    262,787 
Construction work in progress   1,082,681    1,197,551 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   268,193    262,469 
Nuclear fuel   339,446    320,813 
TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT   32,410,645    31,835,514 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   13,431,269    13,139,883 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET   18,979,376    18,695,631 
          
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   737,906    746,413 
  Other regulatory assets   1,381,259    1,429,261 
Long-term receivables   29,884    39,417 
Goodwill   377,172    377,172 
Other   884,622    918,871 
TOTAL   3,410,843    3,511,134 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $28,581,151    $28,310,777 
         
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.        
 
 
 
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt   $375,286    $492,564 
Notes payable   43    193 
Accounts payable   871,244    896,528 
Customer deposits   234,223    222,320 
Taxes accrued   237,239    224,011 
Nuclear refueling outage costs    6,021    -  
Interest accrued   126,360    144,478 
Obligations under capital leases   135,262    133,847 
Other    260,706    218,442 
TOTAL   2,246,384    2,332,383 
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   5,097,025    5,067,381 
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   389,468    399,228 
Obligations under capital leases   170,322    146,060 
Other regulatory liabilities   378,485    329,767 
Decommissioning and retirement cost liabilities   1,959,346    2,066,277 
Transition to competition   79,101    79,101 
Regulatory reserves   20,174    103,061 
Accumulated provisions   560,478    549,914 
Long-term debt   7,843,705    7,016,831 
Preferred stock with sinking fund   15,150    17,400 
Other   1,475,720    1,541,331 
TOTAL   17,988,974    17,316,351 
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
Preferred stock without sinking fund   395,683    365,356 
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000        
 shares; issued 248,174,087 shares in 2005 and in 2004   2,482    2,482 
Paid-in capital   4,845,037    4,835,375 
Retained earnings   5,212,985    4,984,302 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (147,007)   (93,453)
Less - treasury stock, at cost (38,226,127 shares in 2005 and        
 31,345,028 shares in 2004)   1,963,387    1,432,019 
TOTAL   7,950,110    8,296,687 
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $28,581,151    $28,310,777 
         
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND PAID-IN CAPITAL
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
                     
        Three Months Ended
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
RETAINED EARNINGS                    
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period       $5,040,655        $4,605,907     
  Add - Earnings applicable to common stock       286,150    $286,150    265,182    $265,182 
  Deduct:                    
    Dividends declared on common stock       113,820        102,458     
    Capital stock and other expenses             295     
      Total       113,820        102,753     
Retained Earnings - End of period       $5,212,985        $4,768,336     
                     
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE                    
INCOME (LOSS) (Net of Taxes):                    
Balance at beginning of period                    
 Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       ($161,446)       ($41,997)    
  Other accumulated comprehensive income items       44,649        48,490     
      Total       (116,797)       6,493     
                     
Net derivative instrument fair value changes                    
 arising during the period       (46,621)   (46,621)   (77,544)   (77,544)
                     
Foreign currency translation adjustments       (85)   (85)   693    693 
                     
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)       16,496    16,496    (24,843)   (24,843)
                     
Balance at end of period:                    
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       ($208,067)       ($119,541)    
  Other accumulated comprehensive income items       61,060        24,340     
      Total       ($147,007)       ($95,201)    
Comprehensive Income           $255,940        $163,488 
                     
PAID-IN CAPITAL                    
Paid-in Capital - Beginning of period       $4,826,797        $4,792,171     
  Add: Common stock issuances related to stock plans       18,240        26,873     
Paid-in Capital - End of period       $4,845,037        $4,819,044     
                     
                     
                     
                     
        Six Months Ended
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
RETAINED EARNINGS                    
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period       $4,984,302        $4,502,508     
  Add - Earnings applicable to common stock       458,146    $458,146    472,343    $472,343 
  Deduct:                    
    Dividends declared on common stock       229,448        206,220     
    Capital stock and other expenses       15        295     
      Total       229,463        206,515     
Retained Earnings - End of period       $5,212,985        $4,768,336     
                     
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE                    
INCOME (LOSS) (Net of Taxes):                    
Balance at beginning of period                    
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       ($141,411)       ($25,811)    
  Other accumulated comprehensive income items       47,958        18,016     
      Total       (93,453)       (7,795)    
                     
Net derivative instrument fair value changes                    
 arising during the period       (66,655)   (66,655)   (93,730)   (93,730)
                     
Foreign currency translation adjustments       (129)   (129)   2,401    2,401 
                     
Minimum pension liability adjustment       (2,054)   (2,054)    
                     
Net unrealized investment gains       15,284    15,284    3,923    3,923 
                     
Balance at end of period:                    
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       ($208,066)       ($119,541)    
  Other accumulated comprehensive income items       61,059        24,340     
     Total       ($147,007)       ($95,201)    
Comprehensive Income           $404,592        $384,937 
                     
PAID-IN CAPITAL                    
Paid-in Capital - Beginning of period       $4,835,375        $4,767,615     
  Add: Common stock issuances related to stock plans       9,662        51,429     
Paid-in Capital - End of period       $4,845,037        $4,819,044     
                     
                     
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                    
                     

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
    Three Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
U.S. Utility Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $607   $603   $4    1 
  Commercial   480   479   1    - - 
  Industrial   560   558   2    - - 
  Governmental   48   48   -    - - 
    Total retail   1,695   1,688   7    - - 
  Sales for resale   105   104   1    1 
  Other   324   160   164    103 
    Total   $2,124   $1,952   $172    9 
                 
U.S. Utility Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   7,005   6,911   94    1 
  Commercial   6,287   6,220   67    1 
  Industrial   9,810   9,922   (112)   (1)
  Governmental   620   609   11    2 
    Total retail   23,722   23,662   60    - - 
  Sales for resale   1,938   2,367   (429)   (18)
    Total   25,660   26,029   (369)   (1)
                 
                 
    Six Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
U.S. Utility Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $1,229   $1,212   $17    1 
  Commercial   942   914   28    3 
  Industrial   1,116   1,072   44    4 
  Governmental   93   92   1    1 
    Total retail   3,380   3,290   90    3 
  Sales for resale   200   203   (3)   (1)
  Other   288   160   128    80 
    Total   $3,868   $3,653   $215    6 
                 
U.S. Utility Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   14,575   14,637   (62)   - - 
  Commercial   12,277   12,107   170    1 
  Industrial   19,406   19,412   (6)   - - 
  Governmental   1,229   1,209   20    2 
    Total retail   47,487   47,365   122    - - 
  Sales for resale   3,670   4,785   (1,115)   (23)
    Total   51,157   52,150   (993)   (2)
                 

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Nuclear Insurance

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

Nuclear Decommissioning and Other Retirement Costs

See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for information on nuclear decommissioning costs. In the first quarter of 2005, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business recorded a reduction of $26.0 million in its decommissioning cost liability in conjunction with a new decommissioning cost study as a result of revised decommissioning costs and changes in assumptions regarding the timing of when the decommissioning of a plant will begin. The revised estimate resulted in miscellaneous income of $26.0 million ($15.8 million net-of-tax), reflecting the excess of the reduction in the liability over the amount of undepreciated asset retirement cost.

In the second quarter of 2005, Entergy Louisiana recorded a revision to its estimated decommissioning cost liability in accordance with a new decommissioning cost study for Waterford 3 that reflected an expected life extension for the plant. The revised estimate resulted in a $153.6 million reduction in its decommissioning liability, along with a $49.2 million reduction in utility plant and a $104.4 million reduction in the related regulatory asset.

Income Taxes

See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding certain material income tax audit matters involving Entergy. Following is an update to that disclosure.

Mark to Market of Certain Power Contracts

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in 2001, Entergy Louisiana changed its method of accounting for income tax purposes related to its wholesale electric power contracts. The most significant of these is the contract to purchase power from the Vidalia hydroelectric project. On audit of Entergy Louisiana's 2001 tax return, the IRS made an adjustment reducing the amount of the deduction associated with this method change. The adjustment had no material impact on Entergy Louisiana's earnings and required no additional cash payment of 2001 income tax. The Vidalia contract method change has resulted in cumulative cash flow benefits of approximately $790 million through June 30, 2005. This benefit is expected to reverse in the years 2005 through 2031. The tax accounting election has had no effect on book income tax expense. The timing of the reversal of this benefit depends on several variables, including the price of power.

CashPoint Bankruptcy

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

Harrison County Plant Fire

On May 13, 2005, an explosion and fire damaged the non-nuclear wholesale assets business's Harrison County power plant.  A catastrophic failure and subsequent natural gas escape from a nearby 36-inch interstate pipeline owned and operated by a third party is believed to have caused the damage.  Current estimates are that the cost to clean-up the site and reconstruct the damaged portions of the plant could be at least $50 million and take until

second quarter 2006 to be completed.  The plant's property insurer has acknowledged coverage, subject to a $200 thousand deductible. Entergy does not expect the damage caused to the Harrison County plant to have a material effect on its financial position or results of operations.

Employment Litigation

Entergy Corporation and certain subsidiaries are defendants in numerous lawsuits filed by former employees asserting that they were wrongfully terminated and/or discriminated against on the basis of age, race, sex, or other protected characteristics. The defendant companies deny any liability to the plaintiffs.

 

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS

Retail Rate Proceedings

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

Filings with the LPSC

Global Settlement (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement resulted in credits totaling $76 million for retail electricity customers in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana service territory and credits totaling $14 million for retail electricity customers of Entergy Louisiana. The settlement dismissed Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth annual earnings reviews, Entergy Gulf States' ninth post-merger earnings review and revenue requirement analysis, the continuation of a fuel review for Entergy Gulf States, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all prudence issues associated with decisions made through May 2005 related to the nuclear plant uprates at issue in these cases, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the S ystem Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agreement case at FERC. In addition, Entergy Gulf States agreed not to seek recovery from customers of $2 million of excess refund amounts associated with the fourth through the eighth annual earnings reviews and Entergy Louisiana agreed to forgo recovery of $3.5 million of deferred 2003 capacity costs associated with certain power purchase agreements. The credits were issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

The settlement includes the establishment of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Gulf States that, among other provisions, establishes an ROE mid-point of 10.65% for the initial three-year term of the plan and permits Entergy Gulf States to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an allowed range of 9.9% to 11.4% will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Gulf States. In addition, there is the potential to extend the formula rate plan beyond the initial three-year effective period by mutual agreement of the LPSC and Entergy Gulf States. Under the settlement, there was no change to Entergy Gulf States' retail rates at that time.

Retail Rates - Electric

(Entergy Louisiana)

See Note 2 to consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of Entergy Louisiana's rate filing with the LPSC requesting a base rate increase. In March 2005, the LPSC staff and Entergy Louisiana filed a proposed settlement that included an annual base rate increase of approximately $18.3 million which was implemented, subject to refund, effective with May 2005 billings. In May 2005, the LPSC approved a modified settlement which, among other things, reduces depreciation and decommissioning expense due to assuming a life extension of Waterford 3 and results in no change in rates. Subsequently, in June 2005, Entergy Louisiana made a revised compliance filing with the LPSC supporting a revised depreciation rate for Waterford 3, which reflects the removal of interim additions, and a rate increase from the purchase of the Perryville power plant, which results in a net $0.8 million annual rate reduction. Entergy Louisiana reduced rates effective with the first billi ng cycle in June 2005 and expects to refund excess revenue collected during May 2005, including interest, in the third quarter of 2005.

The May 2005 rate settlement includes the adoption of a three-year formula rate plan, the terms of which include an ROE mid-point of 10.25% for the initial three-year term of the plan and permit Entergy Louisiana to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an allowed regulatory earnings range of 9.45% to 11.05% will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Louisiana. The initial formula rate plan filing will be in May 2006 based on a 2005 test year with rates effective September 2006. In addition, there is the potential to extend the formula rate plan beyond the initial three-year effective period by mutual agreement of the LPSC and Entergy Louisiana.

(Entergy Gulf States)

In June 2005, Entergy Gulf States made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the test year ending December 31, 2004. The filing shows a net revenue deficiency of $2.58 million indicating that no refund liability exists. The filing also indicates that a prospective rate increase of $23.8 million is required in order for Entergy Gulf States to earn the authorized ROE mid-point of 10.65%. Subject to the consideration of comments expected to be filed by the LPSC staff and intervenors in the third quarter 2005, rate changes associated with the formula rate plan are scheduled to take effect with the first billing cycle in October 2005.  Any disputed issues will be subject to further investigation by the LPSC, with any resolution of such issues being made effective October 2005.

Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States)

In July 2004, Entergy Gulf States filed with the LPSC an application for a change in its rates and charges seeking an increase of $9.1 million in gas base rates in order to allow Entergy Gulf States an opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable rate of return. In June 2005, the LPSC unanimously approved Entergy Gulf States' proposed settlement that includes a $5.8 million gas base rate increase effective the first billing cycle of July 2005 and a rate stabilization plan with an ROE mid-point of 10.5%.

Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Gulf States)

Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT in July 2005 a request for implementation of an incremental purchased capacity recovery rider, consistent with the recently passed Texas legislation discussed below under "Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71." The rider requests $23.1 million annually in incremental revenues on a Texas retail basis which represents the incremental purchased capacity costs, including Entergy Gulf States' obligation to purchase power from Entergy Louisiana's recently acquired Perryville plant, over what is already in Entergy Gulf States' base rates. Entergy Gulf States has reached an agreement with parties with respect to the date upon which cost recovery and cost reconciliation would begin.  The parties have agreed that Entergy Gulf States will implement the rider after approval by the PUCT which could be up to 185 days from the date of filing but will reconci le and recover incremental purchased capacity costs incurred beginning September 1, 2005. The September 1, 2005 agreed upon date for the beginning of the cost recovery and cost reconciliation as well as the requested amount and the processes for implementing the rider are subject to PUCT action and approval. If approved by the PUCT, the rider would be subject to semi-annual modifications and reconciliation in conjunction with Entergy Gulf States' fuel reconciliation proceedings. Also see "Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71" below for discussion of the provisions in the Texas legislation regarding Entergy Gulf States' ability to file a general rate case and for recovery of transition to competition costs.

Filings with the City Council (Entergy New Orleans)

In April 2005, Entergy New Orleans made its annual scheduled formula rate plan filings with the City Council.  The filings show that a decrease of $0.2 million in electric revenues is warranted and an increase of $3.9 million in gas revenues is warranted. The filings triggered the prescribed period for review by the City Council's Advisors and other parties, and rate adjustments, if any, could be implemented as soon as September 2005.

In May 2005, Entergy New Orleans filed with the City Council a request for continuation of the formula rate plan and generation performance-based rate plan for an additional three years. The filing requests a target equity component of the capital structure of 45%, an increase from the current target of 42%.

Deferred Fuel Costs

See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding fuel proceedings involving the domestic utility companies. The following are updates to the Form 10-K.

In March 2005, Entergy Arkansas filed with the APSC its energy cost recovery rider for the period April 2005 through March 2006. The filed energy cost rate, which accounts for 15 percent of a typical residential customer's bill using 1,000 kWh per month, increased 31 percent primarily attributable to a true-up adjustment for an under-recovery balance of $11.2 million and a nuclear refueling adjustment resulting from outages scheduled in 2005 at ANO 1 and 2.

In March 2004, Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT a fuel reconciliation case covering the period September 2000 through August 2003. Entergy Gulf States is reconciling $1.43 billion of fuel and purchased power costs on a Texas retail basis. This amount includes $8.6 million of under-recovered costs that Entergy Gulf States is asking to reconcile and roll into its fuel over/under-recovery balance to be addressed in the next appropriate fuel proceeding. This case involves imputed capacity and River Bend payment issues similar to those decided adversely in a January 2001 proceeding that is now on appeal. On January 31, 2005, the ALJ issued a Proposal for Decision that recommended disallowing $10.7 million (excluding interest) related to these two issues. In April 2005, the PUCT issued an order reversing in part the ALJ's Proposal for Decision and allowing Entergy Gulf States to recover a part of its request related to the imputed capacity and River Bend payme nt issues. The PUCT's order reduced the disallowance in the case to $8.3 million. Both Entergy Gulf States and certain cities served by Entergy Gulf States filed motions for rehearing on these issues which were denied by the PUCT. Entergy Gulf States and certain Cities filed appeals to the Travis County District Court. The appeals are pending. Any disallowance will be netted against Entergy Gulf States' under-recovered costs and will be included in its deferred fuel costs balance.

In January 2001, Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT a fuel reconciliation case covering the period from March 1999 through August 2000. Entergy Gulf States was reconciling approximately $583 million of fuel and purchased power costs. As part of this filing, Entergy Gulf States requested authority to collect $28 million, plus interest, of under-recovered fuel and purchased power costs. In August 2002, the PUCT reduced Entergy Gulf States' request to approximately $6.3 million, including interest through July 31, 2002. Approximately $4.7 million of the total reduction to the requested surcharge relates to nuclear fuel costs that the PUCT deferred ruling on at that time. In October 2002, Entergy Gulf States appealed the PUCT's final order in Texas District Court. In its appeal, Entergy Gulf States is challenging the PUCT's disallowance of approximately $4.2 million related to imputed capacity costs and its disallowance related to costs for energy delivered from the 30% non-regu lated share of River Bend. The case was argued before the Travis County Texas District Court in August 2003 and the Travis County District Court judge affirmed the PUCT's order. In October 2003, Entergy Gulf States appealed this decision to the Court of Appeals. Oral argument before the appellate court occurred in September 2004 and in May 2005, the appellate court affirmed the lower court's decision affirming the PUCT's disallowance. Entergy Gulf States has filed a motion for rehearing with the appellate court in this case.

In August 2000, the LPSC authorized its staff to initiate a proceeding to audit the fuel adjustment clause filings of Entergy Louisiana pursuant to a November 1997 LPSC general order. The time period that is the subject of the audit is January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001. In September 2003, the LPSC staff issued its audit report and recommended a disallowance with regard to one item. The issue relates to the alleged failure to uprate Waterford 3 in a timely manner, a claim that also has been raised in the summer 2001, 2002, and 2003 purchased power proceedings. The settlement approved by the LPSC in March 2005, discussed above, resolves the uprate imprudence disallowance and is no longer at issue in this proceeding. Subsequent to the issuance of the audit report, the scope of this docket was expanded to include a review of annual reports on fuel and purchased power transactions with affiliates and a prudence review of transmission planning issues. Also, in July 2005, the LP SC expanded the audit to include the years 2002 through 2004. A procedural schedule has been established and LPSC staff and intervenor testimony is due in November 2005.

In January 2003, the LPSC authorized its staff to initiate a proceeding to audit the fuel adjustment clause filings of Entergy Gulf States and its affiliates pursuant to a November 1997 LPSC general order. The audit will include a review of the reasonableness of charges flowed by Entergy Gulf States through its fuel adjustment clause in Louisiana for the period January 1, 1995 through December 31, 2002. Discovery is underway, but a detailed procedural schedule extending beyond the discovery stage has not yet been established, and the LPSC staff has not yet issued its audit report. In June 2005, the LPSC expanded the audit to include the years through 2004.

In January 2005, the MPSC approved a change in Entergy Mississippi's energy cost recovery rider. Entergy Mississippi's fuel over-recoveries for the third quarter of 2004 of $21.3 million will be deferred from the first quarter 2005 energy cost recovery rider adjustment calculation. The deferred amount of $21.3 million plus carrying charges is being refunded through the energy cost recovery rider in the second and third quarters of 2005 at a rate of 45% and 55%, respectively.

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K, the City Council passed resolutions implementing a package of measures developed by Entergy New Orleans and the Council Advisors to protect customers from potential gas price spikes during the 2004 - 2005 winter heating season including the deferral of collection of up to $6.2 million of gas costs associated with a cap on the purchased gas adjustment in November and December 2004 and in the event that the average residential customer's gas bill were to exceed a threshold level. The deferrals of $1.7 million resulting from these caps will receive accelerated recovery over a seven-month period that began in April 2005.

In November 2004, the City Council directed Entergy New Orleans to confer with the City Council Advisors regarding possible modification of the current gas cost collection mechanism in order to address concerns regarding its fluctuations particularly during the winter heating season. In June 2005, Entergy New Orleans filed a new purchased gas adjustment tariff with the City Council. If approved by the City Council, the tariff would be effective in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Fuel Adjustment Clause Litigation

See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the complaint filed by a group of ratepayers with the City Council alleging that Entergy New Orleans and certain affiliates engaged in fuel procurement and power purchasing practices and included certain costs in its fuel adjustment charges that could have resulted in its customers being overcharged by more than $100 million over a period of years. In May 2005, the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans affirmed the City Council resolution that resulted in a refund to customers of $11.3 million, including interest, during the months of June through September 2004, finding no support for the plaintiffs' claim that the refund amount should be higher. In June 2005, the plaintiffs appealed the Civil District Court decision to the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71

Previous developments and information related to electric industry restructuring are presented in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. The following are updates to the Form 10-K.

Louisiana

In November 2001, the LPSC decided not to move forward with retail open access for any customers at this time. The LPSC instead directed its staff to hold collaborative group meetings concerning open access from time to time, and to have the LPSC staff monitor developments in neighboring states and to report to the LPSC regarding the progress of retail access developments in those states. In September 2004, in response to a study performed by the Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies that evaluated a limited industrial-only retail choice program, the LPSC asked the LPSC staff to solicit comments and obtain information from utilities, customers, and other interested parties concerning the potential costs and benefits of a limited choice program, the impact of such a program on other customers, as well as issues such as stranded costs and transmission service.  Comments from interested parties were file d with the LPSC in January 2005. A technical conference was held in April 2005 and in May 2005 interested parties filed reply comments to arguments made at the technical conference. Entergy stated that it believes that there is no new information or credible evidence that would justify altering the LPSC's previous conclusion that retail access is not in the public interest.

Texas

See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the status of retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory and Entergy Gulf States' independent organization request.

In June 2005, a Texas law was enacted which provides that:

  • Entergy Gulf States is authorized by the legislation to proceed with a jurisdictional separation into two vertically integrated utilities, one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the LPSC and one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the PUCT;
  • the portions of all prior PUCT orders requiring Entergy Gulf States to comply with any provisions of Texas law governing transition to retail competition are void;
  • Entergy Gulf States must file a plan by January 1, 2006, identifying the power region(s) to be considered for certification and the steps and schedule to achieve certification;
  • Entergy Gulf States must file a transition to competition plan no later than January 1, 2007, that would address how Entergy Gulf States intends to mitigate market power and achieve full customer choice, including potential construction of additional transmission facilities, generation auctions, generation capacity divestiture, reinstatement of a customer choice pilot project, establishment of a price to beat, and other measures;
  • Entergy Gulf States' rates are subject to cost-of-service regulation until retail customer choice is implemented;
  • Entergy Gulf States may not file a general base rate case in Texas before June 30, 2007, with rates effective no earlier than June 30, 2008, but may seek before then the recovery of certain incremental purchased power capacity costs, adjusted for load growth, not in excess of five percent of its annual base rate revenues (as discussed above in "Filings with the PUCT," in July 2005 Entergy Gulf States filed a request for implementation of an incremental purchased capacity recovery rider); and
  • Entergy Gulf States may recover over a period not to exceed 15 years reasonable and necessary transition to competition costs incurred before the effective date of the legislation and not previously recovered, with appropriate carrying charges.

NOTE 3. COMMON EQUITY

Common Stock

Earnings per Share

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

 

 

For the Three Months Ended June 30,

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)

 

 

 

 

$/share

 

 

 

$/share

Earnings applicable to common stock

 

$286.2

 

 

 

$265.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding - basic

 


211.1

 


$1.36 

 


228.7

 


$1.16 

Average dilutive effect of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

4.2

 

(0.027)

 

3.6

 

(0.018)

 

Equity Awards

 

 

 

0.3

 

(0.002)

 

Deferred Units

 

0.2

 

(0.001)

 

0.2

 

(0.001)

Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

 


215.5

 


$1.33 

 


232.8

 


$1.14 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Six Months Ended June 30,

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)

 

 

 

 

$/share

 

 

 

$/share

Earnings applicable to common stock

 

$458.1

 

 

 

$472.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding - basic

 


212.6

 


$2.15 

 


229.5

 


$2.06 

Average dilutive effect of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

4.3

 

(0.042)

 

4.0

 

(0.035)

 

Equity Awards

 

 

 

0.3

 

(0.003)

 

Deferred Units

 

0.2

 

(0.002)

 

0.2

 

(0.002)

Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

 


217.1

 


$2.11 

 


234.0

 


$2.02 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy's stock option and other equity compensation plans are discussed in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K.

Treasury Stock

For the six months ended June 30, 2005, Entergy Corporation issued 2,266,901 shares of its previously repurchased common stock to satisfy stock option exercises and other stock-based awards and repurchased 9,148,000 shares of common stock for a total purchase price of $639.8 million.

Retained Earnings

On July 29, 2005, Entergy Corporation's Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend of $0.54 per share, payable on September 1, 2005, to holders of record as of August 12, 2005.


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

In May 2005, Entergy Corporation terminated its two, separate, revolving credit facilities, a $500 million five-year credit facility and a $965 million three-year credit facility. At that time Entergy Corporation entered into a $2 billion, five-year credit facility, which expires in May 2010. As of June 30, 2005, $635 million in borrowings were outstanding on this facility. Entergy also has the ability to issue letters of credit against the borrowing capacity of the credit facility, and letters of credit totaling $83.5 million had been issued against this facility at June 30, 2005. The total unused capacity for this facility as of June 30, 2005 was approximately $1.3 billion. The commitment fee for this facility is currently 0.13% per annum of the unused amount. Commitment fees and interest rates on loans under the credit facility can fluctuate depending on the senior debt ratings of the domestic utility companies.

The short-term borrowings of Entergy's subsidiaries are limited to amounts authorized by the SEC. The current limits authorized are effective through November 30, 2007. In addition to borrowing from commercial banks, Entergy's subsidiaries are authorized to borrow from Entergy's money pool. The money pool is an inter-company borrowing arrangement designed to reduce Entergy's subsidiaries' dependence on external short-term borrowings. Borrowings from the money pool and external borrowings combined may not exceed the SEC authorized limits. As of June 30, 2005, Entergy's subsidiaries' aggregate authorized limit was $1.6 billion and the outstanding borrowings from the money pool were $365.6 million.

Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans each have 364-day credit facilities available as follows:


Company

 


Expiration Date

 

Amount of
Facility

 

Amount Drawn as of
June 30, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

April 2006

 

$85 million (a)

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

April 2006

 

$85 million (a)

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

May 2006

 

$15 million (b)

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2006

 

$25 million

 

-

Entergy New Orleans

 

May 2006

 

$15 million (b)

 

-

(a)

The combined amount borrowed by Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Louisiana under these facilities at any one time cannot exceed $85 million.

(b)

The combined amount borrowed by Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans under these facilities at any one time cannot exceed $15 million.

The 364-day credit facilities have variable interest rates and the average commitment fee is 0.13%. The $85 million Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Louisiana credit facilities each require the respective company to maintain total shareholders' equity of at least 25% of its total assets. In July 2005, Entergy New Orleans granted the lender a security interest in its customer accounts receivables to secure its borrowings under its facility. Under the terms of the security agreement, Entergy New Orleans has the option to withdraw the security interest at any time.

The following long-term debt has been issued by Entergy in 2005:

 

Issue Date

 

Amount

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

U.S. Utility

 

 

 

Mortgage Bonds:

 

 

 

5.66% Series due February 2025 - Entergy Arkansas

January 2005

 

$175,000

6.18% Series due March 2035 - Entergy Gulf States

February 2005

$85,000

5.70% Series due June 2015 - Entergy Gulf States

May 2005

$200,000

4.50% Series due June 2010 - Entergy Arkansas

May 2005

$100,000

4.67% Series due June 2010 - Entergy Louisiana

May 2005

 

$55,000

4.98% Series due July 2010 - Entergy New Orleans

June 2005

 

$30,000

Issuance after balance sheet date:

5.12% Series due August 2010 - Entergy Gulf States

July 2005

$100,000

Other Long-Term Debt:

 

 

 

5.00% Series due January 2021, Independence County - Arkansas
(Entergy Arkansas)


March 2005


$45,000

Bank term loan due June 2010, avg rate 4.26%
(Entergy Corporation)


June 2005


$60,000

The following long-term debt was retired by Entergy thus far in 2005:

 

Retirement Date

 

Amount

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

U.S. Utility

 

 

 

Mortgage Bonds:

 

 

 

7.00% Series due October 2023 - Entergy Arkansas

February 2005 

$175,000

Retirements after balance sheet date:

6.125% Series due July 2005 - Entergy Arkansas

July 2005 

$100,000

8.125% Series due July 2005 - Entergy New Orleans

July 2005 

$30,000

6.77% Series due August 2005 - Entergy Gulf States

August 2005 

$98,000

Other Long-term Debt:

 

 

 

Grand Gulf Lease Obligation payment (System Energy)

N/A

 

$28,790

8.75% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
due 2046 - Entergy Gulf States


March 2005


$87,629

6.25% Series due January 2021, Independence County - Arkansas
(Entergy Arkansas)


April 2005


$45,000

9.0% Series due May 2015, West Feliciana Parish - Louisiana
(Entergy Gulf States)


May 2005


$45,000

7.5% Series due May 2015, West Feliciana Parish - Louisiana
(Entergy Gulf States)


May 2005


$41,600

7.7% Series due December 2014, West Feliciana Parish -
Louisiana (Entergy Gulf States)


June 2005


$94,000

Bank term loan due June 2005, avg rate 2.98%
(Entergy Corporation)


June 2005


$60,000

 

In June 2005, Entergy Louisiana purchased its $55 million of 4.9% Series St. Charles Parish bonds from the holders, pursuant to a mandatory tender provision, and has not remarketed the bonds at this time.

NOTE 5. PREFERRED STOCK

In June 2005, Entergy Mississippi issued 1,200,000 shares of $25 par value 6.25% Series Preferred Stock, all of which are outstanding as of June 30, 2005. The dividends are cumulative and will be payable quarterly beginning November 1, 2005. The preferred stock is redeemable on or after July 1, 2010, at Entergy Mississippi's option, at the call price of $25 per share. The proceeds from this issuance were used in the third quarter of 2005 to redeem all $20 million of Entergy Mississippi's $100 par value 8.36% Series Preferred Stock and all $10 million of Entergy Mississippi's $100 par value 7.44% Series Preferred Stock.

NOTE 6. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

Entergy grants stock options, which are described more fully in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Effective January 1, 2003, Entergy prospectively adopted the fair value based method of accounting for stock options prescribed by SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Prior to 2003, Entergy applied the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations in accounting for those plans. Awards under Entergy's plans vest over three years. Therefore, the cost related to stock-based employee compensation included in the determination of net income for 2004 is less than that which would have been recognized if the fair value based method had been applied to all awards since the original effective date of SFAS 123. There is no pro forma effect for the second quarter 2005 and the six months ended June 30, 2005 because all non-vested awards are accounted for at fair val ue. Stock-based compensation expense included in earnings applicable to common stock, net of related tax effects, for the second quarter 2005 and six months ended June 30, 2005 is $2.0 million and $3.8 million, respectively. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share for 2004 if Entergy would have historically applied the fair value based method of accounting to stock-based employee compensation.

   

Three Months
Ended June 30, 2004

 

Six Months
Ended June 30,
2004

 
           

Earnings applicable to common stock

 

$265,182

 

$472,343

 

Add: Stock-based compensation expense included
in earnings applicable to common stock, net of
related tax effects

 



1,389

 



2,362

 

Deduct: Total stock-based employee
compensation expense determined under fair value
method for all awards, net of related tax effects

 



4,271

 



8,126

 
           

Pro forma earnings applicable to common stock

 

$262,300

 

$466,579

 
           

Earnings per average common share:

         
 

Basic

 

$1.16

 

$2.06

 
 

Basic - pro forma

 

$1.15

 

$2.03

 
             
 

Diluted

 

$1.14

 

$2.02

 
 

Diluted - pro forma

 

$1.13

 

$1.99

 

 

NOTE 7. RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Components of Net Pension Cost

Entergy's pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004, included the following components:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$21,447 

 

$18,527 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

38,632 

 

35,979 

Expected return on assets

 

(39,513)

 

(38,580)

Amortization of transition asset

 

(165)

 

(190)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

1,362 

 

1,413 

Amortization of loss

 

7,457 

 

4,407 

Net pension costs

 

$29,220 

 

$21,556 

Entergy's pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, included the following components:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$42,894 

 

$37,262 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

77,264 

 

71,994 

Expected return on assets

 

(79,026)

 

(77,304)

Amortization of transition asset

 

(330)

 

(382)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

2,724 

 

2,826 

Amortization of loss

 

14,914 

 

8,808 

Net pension costs

 

$58,440 

 

$43,204 

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefit Cost

Entergy's other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004, included the following components:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$9,400 

 

$8,145 

Interest cost on APBO

 

14,290 

 

13,436 

Expected return on assets

 

(4,942)

 

(4,625)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

175 

 

205 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(1,979)

 

(609)

Amortization of loss

 

7,083 

 

5,474 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$24,027 

 

$22,026 

Entergy's other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, included the following components:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$18,800 

 

$17,853 

Interest cost on APBO

 

28,580 

 

27,733 

Expected return on assets

 

(9,884)

 

(9,327)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

350 

 

1,447 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(3,958)

 

(1,498)

Amortization of loss

 

14,166 

 

11,427 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$48,054 

 

$47,635 

Employer Contributions

Entergy previously disclosed in the Form 10-K that it expected to contribute $185.9 million to its pension plans in 2005. Entergy has elected to make additional contributions of $67.4 million to the plan for a total of $253.3 million in 2005. As of June 30, 2005, Entergy contributed $117.7 million to its pension plans. The July 2005 contribution was $28.5 million. Therefore, Entergy presently anticipates contributing an additional $107.1 million to fund its pension plans in 2005.

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

Based on actuarial analysis, the estimated impact of future Medicare subsidies reduced the December 31, 2004 Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation by $161 million, and reduced the second quarter 2005 and 2004 other postretirement benefit cost by $6.8 million and $4.5 million, respectively. It reduced the six months ended June 30, 2005 and June 30, 2004 other postretirement benefit cost by $13.6 million and $7 million, respectively. Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion.

NOTE 8. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

Entergy's reportable segments as of June 30, 2005 are U.S. Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear. "All Other" includes the parent company, Entergy Corporation, and other business activity, including the Energy Commodity Services segment, the Competitive Retail Services business, and earnings on the proceeds of sales of previously-owned businesses. The Energy Commodity Services segment was presented as a reportable segment prior to 2005, but it did not meet the quantitative thresholds for a reportable segment in 2004 and, with the sale of Entergy-Koch's businesses in 2004, management does not expect the Energy Commodity Services segment to meet the quantitative thresholds in the foreseeable future. The 2004 information in the table below has been restated to include the Energy Commodity Services segment in the All Other column.

Entergy's segment financial information for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

 



U. S. Utility

 


Non-Utility
Nuclear*

 



All Other*

 



Eliminations

 



Consolidated

(In Thousands)

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$2,168,122 

 

$347,706 

 

$212,624 

 

($18,933)

 

$2,709,519 

Equity in earnings of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 unconsolidated equity affiliates

 

 

2,158 

 

 

2,158 

Income Taxes (Benefit)

138,136 

 

34,978 

 

(16,724)

 

 

156,390 

Net Income

217,501 

 

58,277 

 

16,984 

 

27 

 

292,789 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$1,990,644 

 

$338,745

 

$173,114 

 

($17,406)

 

$2,485,097

Equity in earnings of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 unconsolidated equity affiliates

 

-

 

20,288 

 

 

20,288

Income Taxes

123,852 

 

40,638

 

1,705 

 

 

166,195

Net Income

200,793 

 

62,994

 

7,224 

 

 

271,011

Entergy's segment financial information for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 is as follows:

 



U. S. Utility

 


Non-Utility
Nuclear*

 



All Other*

 



Eliminations

 



Consolidated

(In Thousands)

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$3,999,922 

 

$691,281 

 

$377,722 

 

($35,993)

 

$5,032,932 

Equity in earnings (loss) of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 unconsolidated equity affiliates

 

 

(35)

 

 

(35)

Income Taxes (Benefit)

187,185 

 

86,146 

 

(21,906)

 

 

251,425 

Net Income

313,769 

 

136,242 

 

21,444 

 

(46)

 

471,409 

Total Assets

23,099,834 

 

4,733,230 

 

3,260,502 

 

(2,512,415)

 

28,581,151 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$3,776,162 

 

$683,593

 

$309,667 

 

($32,776)

 

$4,736,646

Equity in earnings of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 unconsolidated equity affiliates

 

-

 

40,107 

 

 

40,107

Income Taxes (Benefit)

196,530 

 

84,333

 

(8,671)

 

 

272,192

Net Income

322,306 

 

131,828

 

29,894 

 

 

484,028

Total Assets

22,578,669 

 

4,402,482

 

3,370,325 

 

(1,481,908)

 

28,869,568

Businesses marked with * are sometimes referred to as the "competitive businesses," with the exception of the parent company, Entergy Corporation. Eliminations are primarily intersegment activity.

NOTE 9. OTHER TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004 reflects a reclassification from cash and cash equivalents to other temporary investments of $188 million of instruments used in Entergy's cash management program. A corresponding change was made to the consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2004 resulting in reductions of $27 million and $185 million in the amounts presented as cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2004 and December 31, 2003. This reclassification is to present certain highly-liquid auction rate securities as short-term investments rather than as cash equivalents due to the stated tenor of the maturities of these investments. Entergy actively invests its available cash balance in financial instruments, which prior to June 2005 included auction rate securities that have stated maturities of 20 years or more. The auction rate securities provided a high degree of liquidity through features such as 7 and 28 day auctions that allow for the redemption of the securities at their face amount plus earned interest. Because Entergy intended to sell these instruments within one year or less, typically within 28 days of the balance sheet date, they are classified as current assets. As of June 30, 2005, Entergy no longer holds any of these auction rate securities.

__________________________________

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

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Results of Operations

Net Income

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net income increased $5.0 million primarily due to higher net revenue and other income, partially offset by higher other operation and maintenance expenses and a higher effective income tax rate.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net income increased $17.7 million primarily due to higher net revenue and other income, partially offset by higher other operation and maintenance expenses.

Net Revenue

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy Arkansas' measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the second quarter of 2005 to the second quarter of 2004.

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$248.2 

Volume/weather

 

8.9 

Net wholesale revenue

 

4.8 

Late payment charges

 

1.8 

Other

 

2.5 

2005 net revenue

 

$266.2 

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to increased usage during the unbilled sales period and a total increase of 74 GWh in weather-adjusted usage, primarily in the residential and commercial sectors. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The net wholesale revenue variance is primarily due to higher wholesale market prices and improved results related to co-owner contracts.

The late payment charges variance is primarily due to late payment charges which Entergy Arkansas began collecting from customers in July 2004.

Gross operating revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to an increase of $15.7 million in fuel cost recovery revenues due to an increase in the energy cost recovery rider effective April 2005. The increases in volume/weather, wholesale revenue, and late payment charges, as discussed above, also contributed to the increase.

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to an increase in the market price of purchased power and increased deferred fuel expense resulting primarily from higher fuel revenue as a result of an increase in the energy cost recovery rider effective April 2005.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy Arkansas' measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the six months ended June 30, 2005 to the six months ended June 30, 2004.

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$455.0 

Deferred fuel cost revisions

 

15.5 

Net wholesale revenue

 

11.0 

Volume/weather

 

7.9 

Late payment charges

 

3.6 

Other

 

(3.1)

2005 net revenue

 

$489.9 

The deferred fuel cost revisions variance is primarily due to a revised estimate of fuel costs filed for recovery at Entergy Arkansas in the March 2004 energy cost recovery rider, which reduced net revenue in the first quarter of 2004 by $11.5 million. The remainder of the variance is due to the 2004 energy cost recovery true-up, made in the first quarter of 2005, which increased net revenue by $4.0 million.

The net wholesale revenue variance is primarily due to higher wholesale market prices and improved results related to co-owner contracts.

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to a total increase of 195 GWh in weather-adjusted usage, primarily in the residential and commercial sectors, and increased usage during the unbilled sales period, partially offset by milder weather in 2005. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The late payment charges variance is primarily due to late payment charges which Entergy Arkansas began collecting from customers in July 2004.

Gross operating revenues

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to an increase of $23 million in fuel cost recovery revenues due to an increase in the energy cost recovery rider effective April 2005. The increases in volume/weather, wholesale revenue, and late payment charges, as discussed above, also contributed to the increase.

Other Income Statement Variances

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to higher payroll and benefits costs.

Other income increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $1.2 million in interest earned on temporary cash investments and money pool investments;
  • an increase of $1 million in the allowance for equity funds used during construction related to increased construction expenditures for projects including the steam generator and reactor vessel head replacement at ANO 1; and
  • an increase of $0.5 million in interest earned on decommissioning trust funds.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to higher payroll and benefits costs.

Other income increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $2.8 million in the allowance for equity funds used during construction related to increased construction expenditures for projects including the steam generator and reactor vessel head replacement at ANO 1;
  • an increase of $2.5 million in interest earned on temporary cash investments and money pool investments;
  • interest of $0.6 million earned on bond proceeds; and
  • an increase of $0.5 million in interest earned on decommissioning trust funds.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 37.0% and 34.4%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter of 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items, partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits and book and tax differences related to the allowance for funds used during construction. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter of 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to the amortization of investment tax credits and book and tax differences related to the allowance for funds used during construction, partially offset by state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items.

The effective income tax rates for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were 36.3% and 36.4%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items, partially offset by a downward revision in the estimate of federal income tax expense related to tax depreciation, the amortization of investment tax credits, and book and tax differences related to the allowance for funds used during construction. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items, partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits and book and tax differences related to the allowance for funds used during construction.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$89,744 

 

$8,834 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

101,516 

 

78,212 

 

Investing activities

 

(137,478)

 

(115,838)

 

Financing activities

 

57,634 

 

65,412 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

21,672 

 

27,786 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$111,416 

 

$36,620 

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operations increased $23.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to the timing of the collection of receivables from customers and an increase in net income. The increase was partially offset by money pool activity and higher income tax payments.

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

June 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

June 30,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$132,315

 

$23,561

 

$23,370

 

($69,153)

Money pool activity used $108.8 million of Entergy Arkansas' operating cash flows in the six months ended June 30, 2005 and used $92.5 million in the six months ended June 30, 2004. See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Investing Activities

Net cash flow used in investing activities increased $21.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to $16.1 million used for other regulatory investments as a result of fuel cost under-recovery and increased construction expenditures of $7.8 million resulting from the steam generator and reactor vessel head replacement at ANO 1.

Financing Activities

Net cash flow provided by financing activities decreased $7.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to an $85 million borrowing made on Entergy Arkansas' 364-day credit facility during the six months ended June 30, 2004, which provided cash in 2004, and the payment of $15.7 million more in common stock dividends. The decrease was almost entirely offset by the net issuance of $92.9 million of long-term debt in 2005. See Note 3 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements for details of Entergy Arkansas' long-term debt activity in 2005.

Uses and Sources of Capital

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

In April 2005, Entergy Arkansas renewed its 364-day credit facility through April 30, 2006. In May 2005, Entergy Louisiana entered into a separate credit facility with the same lender. Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Louisiana can each borrow up to $85 million under their respective credit facilities, but at no time can the total amount borrowed under these facilities by the two companies combined exceed $85 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under either credit facility as of June 30, 2005.

Entergy Arkansas issued long-term debt in 2005 as follows:

Issue Date

 

Description

 

Maturity

 

Amount

           

(In Thousands)

             

January 2005

 

5.66% Series

 

February 2025

 

$175,000

March 2005

 

5.00% Series

 

January 2021

 

$45,000

May 2005

 

4.50% Series

 

June 2010

 

$100,000

Entergy Arkansas redeemed long-term debt in 2005 as follows:

Retirement Date

 


Description

 


Maturity

 


Amount

           

(In Thousands)

             

February 2005

 

7.00% Series

 

October 2023

 

$175,000

April 2005

 

6.25% Series

 

January 2021

 

$45,000

July 2005

 

6.125% Series

 

July 2005

 

$100,000

The March 2005 issuance and the April 2005 retirement are not shown on the cash flow statement because the proceeds from the issuance were placed in a trust and never held as cash by Entergy Arkansas.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

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

Federal Regulation

System Agreement Litigation

On June 1, 2005, the FERC issued a decision in the System Agreement litigation. The domestic utility companies historically have engaged in the coordinated planning, construction, and operation of generating and bulk transmission facilities under the terms of the System Agreement, which has been approved by the FERC. The System Agreement litigation proceedings are described in the Form 10-K.

The FERC decision concluded, among other things, that:

  • The System Agreement no longer roughly equalizes production costs among the domestic utility companies.
  • In order to reach rough production cost equalization, the FERC will impose a bandwidth remedy allowing for a maximum spread of 22 percent (expressed by the FERC as +/- 11%) between the total annual production costs of the highest cost and lowest cost domestic utility companies.
  • When calculating the production costs for this purpose, output from the Vidalia hydroelectric power plant will not reflect the actual Vidalia price for that year but will be priced at that year's average MSS-3 price, reducing the amount of Vidalia costs reflected in the comparison of the domestic utility companies' total production costs.
  • The remedy ordered by FERC calls for no refunds and would be effective based on the calendar year 2006 production costs with the first potential reallocation payments, if required, expected to be made in 2007.

The FERC's June 2005 order would reallocate production costs of the domestic utility companies whose relative total production costs expressed as a percentage of Entergy System average production costs are outside an upper or lower bandwidth. This would be accomplished by payments from domestic utility companies whose production costs are below Entergy System average production costs to domestic utility companies whose production costs are above Entergy System average production costs. An assessment of the potential effects of the FERC's June 2005 order requires assumptions regarding the future total production cost of each domestic utility company, which assumptions include the mix of solid fuel and gas-fired generation available to each company and the costs of natural gas and purchased power.  Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States are more dependent upon gas-fired generation than Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, or Entergy New Orleans. Of these, Entergy Arkansas is the l east dependent upon gas-fired generation.  Therefore, increases in natural gas prices likely will increase the amount by which Entergy Arkansas' total production costs are below the average production costs of the domestic utility companies.  Considerable uncertainty exists regarding future gas prices. Annual average Henry Hub gas prices have varied significantly over recent years, ranging from $1.72/mmBtu to $5.85/mmBtu for the 1995-2004 period, and averaging $3.43/mmBtu during the ten-year period 1995-2004 and $4.58/mmBtu during the five-year period 2000-2004.  Recent market conditions have resulted in gas prices that have averaged $5.85/mmBtu for the twelve months ended December 2004. During the 12 month period July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 forward gas contracts for each of the next four years based on daily NYMEX close averaged $6.68/mmBtu (2006), $6.25/mmBtu (2007), $5.88/mmBtu (2008) and $5.58/mmBtu (2009). If the FERC's June 2005 order becomes final and if these gas prices occur as assumed, the following potential annual production cost reallocations among the domestic utility companies could result during the 2007-2010 period:

 

Range of Annual Payments
or (Receipts)

 

Average Annual
Payment or (Receipt)

 

(In Millions)

       

Entergy Arkansas

$143 to $210 

 

$166 

Entergy Gulf States

($134) to ($87)

 

($113)

Entergy Louisiana

($71) to ($10)

 

($38)

Entergy Mississippi

($28) to $0 

 

($11)

Entergy New Orleans

($10) to $0 

 

($4)

If natural gas prices deviate by $1/mmBtu up or down, it is expected that Entergy Arkansas' annual payments will change in the same direction by approximately $60 to $70 million.

Various pending motions for rehearing and clarification of the FERC's June 2005 order were filed by parties to the proceeding, including the LPSC, the APSC, the MPSC, and the City Council, and by Entergy Services, Inc., on behalf of the domestic utility companies. Among other things, the LPSC's motion urged the FERC to "clarify" that the FERC's order requires the payments and receipts, to the extent any are required, to be made in 2006 based on production costs incurred in 2004 and 2005. Entergy does not believe that this request for "clarification" is consistent with the FERC order and submitted a response urging the FERC to reject this interpretation and instead find that the annual remedy order by the FERC would be evaluated based on calendar year 2006 production costs, with the first potential payments/receipts, if any were required, made in 2007.

Management believes that any changes in the allocation of production costs resulting from the FERC's June 2005 order and related retail proceedings should result in similar rate changes for retail customers. The timing of recovery of these costs in rates could be the subject of additional proceedings before the APSC and Entergy's other retail regulators. Although the outcome and timing of the FERC, APSC, and other proceedings cannot be predicted at this time, Entergy Arkansas does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

Transmission

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the petition for declaratory order that Entergy filed with the FERC in January 2005 regarding Entergy's Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT) proposal. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued a declaratory order concluding that: (1) because the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) was the only entity identified as potentially being selected as the ICT and because the SPP is already a "public utility" there was no need to rule on the question of whether the functions of the ICT, alone, would serve to make the ICT a "public utility;" (2) Entergy will continue to be the "transmission provider" for transmission service across its system and that "the presence of SPP as the ICT will not change the existing balance of jurisdiction between [the FERC] and Entergy's retail regulators;" and (3) the FERC "is prepared to grant Entergy's proposed transmission pricing proposal on a two-year experimental basis, subject to certain enhancement and monitoring and reportin g conditions." The enhancements referred to by the FERC involve more fully specifying the responsibilities and duties of the ICT, including defining the ICT's role in the preparation of various transmission expansion plans and the performance of studies related to the granting of transmission or interconnection service. Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal.

On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy.

On April 21, 2005 Entergy filed a request for clarification or rehearing of the FERC's March 22 declaratory order requesting that the FERC clarify the respective role of Entergy and the ICT in developing the inputs or criteria used to create the base plan and in preparing certain studies regarding system expansion. The request for clarification further requests that the FERC clarify that the initial two-year period will commence with the actual start date of ICT operations. In the event that the FERC denies Entergy's request for clarification, then Entergy will seek rehearing on these issues. However, in its request, Entergy requested that FERC not rule on these issues at this time but, instead, that the FERC wait to evaluate these issues until such time as Entergy has filed the more detailed tariff sheets and protocols in its subsequent filing to implement the ICT. Separately, Entergy submitted a letter advising the FERC that it intended to submit on or about May 27, 2005 the filing t o implement the ICT proposal. A joint request for rehearing of the ICT declaratory order was also filed by the City Council, the LPSC, and the MPSC in which the retail regulators expressed their concerns that the findings reached in the declaratory order may result in an expansion of authority of the ICT "that is unnecessary to achieve the [FERC's] goals and is very likely to result in significant increases in the start-up and operational costs of the ICT." The retail regulators request that the FERC not act on their request for rehearing until Entergy has submitted its filing to implement the ICT. The intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

On May 12, 2005 the FERC issued an order clarifying certain aspects of its March 22 order. In the May 12 order, the FERC indicated that (1) Entergy is to work with the ICT and Entergy's stakeholders to develop procedures by which the ICT will calculate AFCs; (2) Entergy must specifically define the transmission rights that a customer that pays for supplemental upgrades will receive for such payments; (3) the FERC will review the ICT's contract to ensure that the ICT can perform its functions in an independent manner even if SPP is chosen as the ICT; and (4) the initial two-year period will start once the ICT becomes operational.

On May 27, 2005, the domestic utility companies filed the enhanced ICT proposal with the FERC. Entergy believes that the filing is consistent with the FERC guidance received in both the FERC's March 22 and May 12 orders on the ICT. Among other things, the enhanced ICT filing states that the ICT will (1) grant or deny transmission service on the domestic utility companies' transmission system; (2) administer the domestic utility companies' OASIS node for purposes of processing and evaluating transmission service requests and ensuring compliance with the domestic utility companies' obligation to post transmission-related information; (3) develop a base plan for the domestic utility companies' transmission system that will result in the ICT making the determination on whether something should be rolled into the domestic utility companies' transmission rates or directly assigned to the customer requesting or causing an upgrade to be constructed; (4) serve as the reliability coordinator for t he Entergy transmission system; and (5) oversee the operation of the weekly procurement process. The enhanced ICT proposal clarifies the rights that customers receive when they fund a supplemental upgrade and also contains a detailed methodology describing the process by which the ICT will evaluate interconnection-related investments already made on the Entergy System for purposes of determining the future allocation of the uncredited portion of these investments.

On June 3, 2005 a group of generators filed with the FERC a request that the FERC schedule a technical conference on the enhanced ICT proposal in order for Entergy to provide additional information on the enhanced ICT proposal. In response, a stakeholder meeting was held in New Orleans on June 30, 2005. Interventions and comments on the filing are due by August 5, 2005.

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is currently scheduled for August 2005, however certain intervenors have recently requested that the hearing be delayed until mid-September 2005.

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceeding

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of proceedings at the FERC involving Entergy's Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued an order contemporaneously with the ICT declaratory order discussed above that holds the AFC hearing in abeyance pending action on Entergy's upcoming ICT filing. The order holding the hearing in abeyance further indicated that it would cancel the hearing when the ICT begins to perform its functions. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed Emergency Motions for Interim Relief and Expedited Commission Action requesting that, during the interim period before the implementation of the ICT, the FERC (1) institute an audit process to examine and modify Entergy's current AFC process; and (2) require SPP to become involved in the AFC stakeholder process and order certain modifications to Entergy's stakeholder process. The audit process being proposed by the intervenors would not involve an independent audi tor, but instead would be an investigation performed by a representative from the intervenors, Entergy, and possibly SPP.  On April 25, 2005, Entergy filed its response to the emergency motion urging the FERC to reject the intervenors' request for the "audit" because the type of investigation proposed by the intervenors would be neither independent nor fair and would only distract from the implementation of the ICT.  Instead, Entergy has proposed that the ICT conduct an independent review of the AFC process and procedures as part of its transition to assuming the identified ICT responsibilities, including the calculation of the AFCs.  Entergy further indicated that it would welcome SPP's participation in the current stakeholder process. On April 21, 2005, the intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing arguing that the FERC must allow the AFC hearing to proceed in parallel with the establishment of the ICT. See "Transmission" above for further discussion of AFC.

Federal Legislation

In late July 2005 the U.S. Congress passed broad new energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The legislation contains electricity provisions that, among other things:

  • Repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA), effective six months after enactment of the Energy Policy Act. As a registered holding company system, Entergy is subject to PUHCA. Some of the more significant effects of PUHCA are that it limits the operations of a registered holding company system to a single, integrated public utility system; regulates transactions among affiliates within a holding company system; governs the issuance, acquisition, and disposition of securities and assets by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries; limits the entry by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries into businesses other than electric or gas utility businesses; and requires SEC approval for certain utility mergers and acquisitions. Certain consumer protection authorities were transferred to the FERC, including new authority over utility mergers and acquisitions, and to the state or local regulatory commissions.
  • Codifies the concept of participant funding, a form of cost allocation for transmission interconnections and upgrades, and allows FERC to apply participant funding in all regions of the country. Participant funding helps ensure that a utility's native load customers only bear the costs that are necessary to provide reliable transmission service to them and not bear costs required by generators who seek to deliver power to other regions.
  • Provides financing benefits, including loan guarantees and production tax credits, for new nuclear plant construction, and reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act, the law that provides an umbrella of insurance protection for the payment of public liability claims in the event of a major nuclear power plant incident.
  • Revises current tax law treatment of nuclear decommissioning trust funds by allowing regulated and nonregulated taxpayers to make deductible contributions to fund the entire amount of estimated future decommissioning costs.
  • Provides a more rapid tax depreciation schedule for transmission assets t o encourage investment.
  • Creates mandatory electricity reliability guidelines with enforceable penalties to help ensure that the nation's power transmission grid is kept in good repair and that disruptions in the electricity system are minimized.  Entergy already voluntarily complies with National Electricity Reliability Council standards, which are similar.
  • Establishes conditions for the elimination of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act's (PURPA) mandatory purchase obligation from qualifying facilities.

The President is expected to sign the Energy Policy Act in August 2005. The Energy Power Act requires several rulemakings by the FERC and other government agencies in order to implement its provisions. Therefore, it will be some time before a full assessment of its effect on Entergy and the energy industry can be completed.

Central States Compact Claim

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 holds each state responsible for disposal of low-level radioactive waste originating in that state, but allows states to participate in regional compacts to fulfill their responsibilities jointly.  Arkansas and Louisiana participate in the Central Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact (Central States Compact or Compact).  Commencing in 1998, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana made a series of contributions to the Central States Compact to fund the Central States Compact's development of a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility to be located in Boyd County, Nebraska.  In December 1998, Nebraska, the host state for the proposed Central States Compact disposal facility, denied the compact's license application for the proposed disposal facility.  Several parties, including the commission that governs the compact (the Compact Commission), filed a lawsuit against Nebraska seeking damages resulting from Nebraska's denial of the proposed facility's license.  After a trial, the U.S. District Court concluded that Nebraska violated its good faith obligations regarding the proposed waste disposal facility and rendered a judgment against Nebraska in the amount of $151 million.  In August 2004, Nebraska agreed to pay the Compact $141 million in settlement of the judgment. In July 2005, the Compact Commission decided to distribute a substantial portion of the proceeds from the settlement to the nuclear power generators that had contributed funding for the Boyd County facility, including Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana. On August 1, 2005, Nebraska paid the full amount of the settlement to the Compact, and the Compact distributed from the settlement proceeds $23.6 million to Entergy Arkansas, $19.9 million to Entergy Gulf States, and $18.4 million to Entergy Louisiana.  Management is still analyzing the accounting treatment of the  r eceipts, but expects that some portion of the receipts could result in income for Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana.

Critical Accounting Estimates

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

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter 2005, FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, "Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143" (FIN 47). FIN 47 requires companies to recognize at fair value a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred, which is generally upon an asset's acquisition, construction, development, or through its normal operation. A conditional asset retirement obligation is generally a legal obligation to incur costs to remove an asset or part of an asset, such as an obligation to comply with environmental regulations and requirements. The obligation is conditional because there is currently no legal requirement to retire or remove the facility that the affected asset is a part of. FIN 47 requires that uncertainty about the timing or method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information becom es available. FIN 47 will be effective for Entergy no later than December 31, 2005. Entergy does not believe that the adoption of FIN 47 will be material to its financial position or results of operations because it estimates that any conditional asset retirement obligations required to be recognized under FIN 47 would be offset by a regulatory asset because of the expected recovery of these future costs in rates.

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
         
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    2005   2004   2005   2004
    (In Thousands)   (In Thousands)
                 
OPERATING REVENUES                
Domestic electric   $450,097    $405,509    $817,457    $768,969 
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Operation and Maintenance:                
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and                
   gas purchased for resale   46,612    35,316    83,415    95,103 
  Purchased power   139,899    127,828    247,531    230,156 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   7,019    5,453    13,336    11,790 
  Other operation and maintenance   105,727    94,215    191,556    178,656 
Decommissioning   8,246    7,725    16,359    17,069 
Taxes other than income taxes   10,051    9,898    19,888    18,294 
Depreciation and amortization   48,023    50,269    99,800    99,937 
Other regulatory credits - net   (2,589)   (5,864)   (3,384)   (11,270)
TOTAL   362,988    324,840    668,501    639,735 
                 
OPERATING INCOME   87,109    80,669    148,956    129,234 
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   3,491    2,454    7,450    4,647 
Interest and dividend income   5,078    2,989    9,370    5,011 
Miscellaneous - net   (47)   (497)   (679)   (1,547)
TOTAL   8,522    4,946    16,141    8,111 
                 
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
Interest on long-term debt   19,968    19,769    40,750    39,517 
Other interest - net   798    1,166    2,224    2,049 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (1,725)   (1,279)   (3,736)   (2,580)
TOTAL   19,041    19,656    39,238    38,986 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   76,590    65,959    125,859    98,359 
                 
Income taxes   28,300    22,682    45,638    35,807 
                 
NET INCOME   48,290    43,277    80,221    62,552 
                 
Preferred dividend requirements and other   1,944    1,944    3,888    3,888 
                 
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO                
COMMON STOCK   $46,346    $41,333    $76,333    $58,664 
                 
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.                
                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $80,221    $62,552 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
  Other regulatory credits - net   (3,384)   (11,270)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   116,159    117,006 
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   17,049    54,552 
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   (75,186)   (47,755)
    Fuel inventory   (773)   (2,586)
    Accounts payable   (13,773)   (64,605)
    Taxes accrued   11,418    (12,123)
    Interest accrued   1,196    (357)
    Deferred fuel costs   (720)   (1,794)
    Other working capital accounts   (10,700)   (7,342)
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   (3,645)   (6,517)
  Changes in other regulatory assets   25,435    7,634 
  Other   (41,781)   (9,183)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   101,516    78,212 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (123,690)   (115,882)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   7,450    4,647 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (62,307)   (8,101)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   62,248    8,101 
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized        
 change in trust assets   (5,085)   (4,603)
Other regulatory investments   (16,094)   - - 
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (137,478)   (115,838)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   272,817    - - 
Retirement of long-term debt   (179,895)   - - 
Changes in short-term borrowings   - -    85,000 
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (31,400)   (15,700)
  Preferred stock   (3,888)   (3,888)
Net cash flow provided by financing activities   57,634    65,412 
         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   21,672    27,786 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   89,744    8,834 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $111,416    $36,620 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid/(received) during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $37,395    $38,999 
  Income taxes   $19,450    ($5,400)
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $1,956    $7,133 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   109,460    82,611 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   111,416    89,744 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   74,227    87,131 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (11,225)   (11,039)
  Associated companies   155,179    72,472 
  Other   58,737    72,425 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   90,900    71,643 
     Total accounts receivable   367,818    292,632 
Deferred fuel costs   24,182    7,368 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   13,408    27,306 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   5,071    4,298 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   85,391    85,076 
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   28,485    16,485 
Prepayments and other   6,509    6,154 
TOTAL   642,280    529,063 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   11,208    11,208 
Decommissioning trust funds   393,482    383,784 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   1,452    1,453 
Other   2,976    2,976 
TOTAL   409,118    399,421 
         
UTILITY PLANT        
Electric   6,165,950    6,124,359 
Property under capital lease   15,664    17,500 
Construction work in progress   253,268    226,172 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   102,586    93,855 
Nuclear fuel   20,259    12,201 
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   6,557,727    6,474,087 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   2,823,727    2,753,525 
UTILITY PLANT - NET   3,734,000    3,720,562 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   87,774    101,658 
  Other regulatory assets   433,374    400,174 
Other   46,611    42,514 
TOTAL   567,759    544,346 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $5,353,157    $5,193,392 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
 
 
 
ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt   $147,000   $147,000
Accounts payable:        
  Associated companies   50,366   68,829
  Other   94,586   89,896
Customer deposits   44,449   41,639
Taxes accrued   32,580   35,874
Interest accrued   22,572   21,376
Obligations under capital leases   51,232   49,816
Other   18,808   19,648
TOTAL   461,593   474,078
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   1,127,155   1,121,623
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   66,226   68,452
Obligations under capital leases   66,960   61,538
Other regulatory liabilities   71,975   67,362
Decommissioning   509,103   492,745
Accumulated provisions   31,332   34,977
Long-term debt   1,296,071   1,191,763
Other   234,403   237,447
TOTAL   3,403,225   3,275,907
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Preferred stock without sinking fund   116,350   116,350
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 325,000,000        
 shares; issued and outstanding 46,980,196 shares in 2005        
 and 2004   470   470
Paid-in capital   591,126   591,127
Retained earnings   780,393   735,460
TOTAL   1,488,339   1,443,407
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $5,353,157   $5,193,392
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
 
    Three Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $ 124   $ 115   $ 9    8 
  Commercial   80   73   7    10 
  Industrial   84   77   7    9 
  Governmental   4   4   -    - - 
     Total retail   292   269   23    9 
  Sales for resale                 
    Associated companies   64   55   9    16 
    Non-associated companies   50   47   3    6 
  Other   44   35   9    26 
     Total   $ 450   $ 406   $ 44    11 
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   1,481   1,431   50    3 
  Commercial   1,305   1,273   32    3 
  Industrial   1,720   1,714   6    - - 
  Governmental   66   67   (1)   (1)
     Total retail   4,572   4,485   87    2 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   1,622   1,513   109    7 
    Non-associated companies   1,065   1,248   (183)   (15)
     Total   7,259   7,246   13    - - 
                 
                 
    Six Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $ 259   $ 246   $ 13    5 
  Commercial   149   138   11    8 
  Industrial   156   145   11    8 
  Governmental   9   8   1    13 
     Total retail   573   537   36    7 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   105   109   (4)   (4)
    Non-associated companies   100   92   8    9 
  Other   39   31   8    26 
     Total   $ 817   $ 769   $ 48    6 
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   3,371   3,320   51    2 
  Commercial   2,554   2,486   68    3 
  Industrial   3,384   3,361   23    1 
  Governmental   134   131   3    2 
     Total retail   9,443   9,298   145    2 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   2,977   3,185   (208)   (7)
    Non-associated companies   2,172   2,533   (361)   (14)
     Total   14,592   15,016   (424)   (3)
                 
                 

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Results of Operations

Net Income

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net income decreased $11.3 million primarily due to higher other operation and maintenance expenses and lower miscellaneous income, partially offset by higher net revenue.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net income decreased $29.7 million primarily due to higher other operation and maintenance expenses, lower net revenue, and lower miscellaneous income, partially offset by lower interest expense and a lower effective income tax rate.

Net Revenue

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy Gulf States' measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the second quarter of 2005 to the second quarter of 2004.

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$296.4 

Price applied to unbilled electric sales

 

14.2 

Fuel recovery revenues

 

(9.5)

Other

 

1.7 

2005 net revenue

 

$302.8 

The price applied to unbilled electric sales variance is due to an increase in the fuel cost component of the price applied to unbilled sales in 2005. The fuel cost component is higher because of an increase in natural gas costs and nuclear maintenance outages at River Bend. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

Fuel recovery revenues represent an under-recovery of fuel charges that are recovered in base rates.

Gross operating revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $40.3 million in fuel cost recovery revenues due to higher fuel rates;
  • an increase of $14.2 million in the price applied to unbilled electric sales; and
  • an increase of $10 million in gross wholesale revenue due to increased sales to municipals and co-op customers.

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to an increase in the market prices of natural gas and purchased power.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy Gulf States' measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the six months ended June 30, 2005 to the six months ended June 30, 2004.

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$559.1 

Fuel recovery revenues

 

(7.9)

Volume/weather

 

(7.8)

Net wholesale revenue

 

(4.9)

Rate refund provisions

 

6.8 

Other

 

(0.8)

2005 net revenue

 

$544.5 

Fuel recovery revenues represent an under-recovery of fuel charges that are recovered in base rates.

The volume/weather variance is primarily due to decreased usage during the unbilled sales period. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The net wholesale revenue variance resulted from an increase in the average price of energy allocated to municipal and co-op customers.

The rate refund provisions variance is due to additional provisions recorded in 2004 for potential rate actions and refunds.

Gross operating revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to an increase of $97.5 million in fuel cost recovery revenues due to higher fuel rates and an increase in wholesale revenue of $12.7 million due to an increase in sales volume to municipal and co-op customers.

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to an increase in the market prices of natural gas and purchased power.

Other Income Statement Variances

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased $12.6 million primarily due to increases of:

  • $6.6 million in generation expenses primarily due to both planned off-peak and unplanned maintenance outages at nuclear and fossil plants;
  • $3.9 million in payroll and benefits costs; and
  • $1.5 million in estimated loss provisions recorded for the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the domestic utility companies.

Miscellaneous income - net decreased primarily due to a reduction in 2004 in the loss provision of $10.1 million for an environmental clean-up site.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased $29.5 million primarily due to increases of:

  • $11.4 million in generation expenses primarily due to both planned off-peak and unplanned maintenance outages at nuclear and fossil plants;
  • $6.4 million in payroll and benefits costs; and
  • $1.5 million in estimated loss provisions recorded for the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the domestic utility companies.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased $5 million primarily due to an increase in plant in service as well as an adjustment in 2004 to the salvage value of certain depreciable assets.

Miscellaneous income - net decreased primarily due to a reduction in 2004 in the loss provision of $10.1 million for an environmental clean-up site.

Interest and other charges decreased $8.2 million primarily due to the retirement of $292 million of First Mortgage Bonds in 2004.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 38% and 38.2%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter of 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35% is primarily due to state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items, partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits and book and tax differences related to the allowance of funds used during construction. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter of 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35% is primarily due to state income taxes partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits.

The effective income tax rates for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were 32.7% and 35.6%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35% is primarily due to amortization of investment tax credits, book and tax differences related to the allowance for funds used during construction, and a downward revision in the estimate of federal income tax expense related to tax depreciation, partially offset by state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$6,974 

 

$206,030 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

186,084 

 

291,317 

 

Investing activities

 

(175,285)

 

(152,709)

 

Financing activities

 

(15,446)

 

(327,410)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(4,647)

 

(188,802)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$2,327 

 

$17,228 

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operations decreased $105.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to the refund of $76 million to retail electricity customers per the March 2005 settlement approved by the LPSC, a decrease of $18.8 million in the recovery of fuel costs, increased pension contributions of $12.4 million, and tax payments of $14.5 million.

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

June 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

June 30,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($149,447)

 

($59,720)

 

($27,126)

 

$69,354

See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased $22.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to the maturity in 2004 of $23.6 million of other investments that provided cash in 2004.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities decreased $312 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to the retirement of $292 million of First Mortgage Bonds in 2004.

Uses and Sources of Capital

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

The following table lists First Mortgage Bonds issued by Entergy Gulf States in 2005:

Issue Date

Description

Maturity

Amount

(In Thousands)

February 2005

6.18% Series

March 2035

$85,000 

May 2005

5.7% Series

June 2015

200,000 

July 2005

5.12% Series

August 2010

100,000 

The following table lists long-term debt retired by Entergy Gulf States thus far in 2005:

Retirement Date

Description

Maturity

Amount

(In Thousands)

March 2005

8.75% Series Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures

March 2046

$87,629 

May 2005

9.0% West Feliciana Parish bonds

May 2015

45,000 

May 2005

7.5% West Feliciana Parish bonds

May 2015

41,600 

June 2005

7.7% West Feliciana Parish bonds

December 2014

94,000 

August 2005

6.77% Series First Mortgage Bonds

August 2005

98,000 

Significant Factors and Known Trends

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

State and Local Rate Regulation

In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement resulted in credits of $76 million to retail electricity customers in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana service territory. The settlement dismissed Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth annual earnings reviews, Entergy Gulf States' ninth post-merger earnings review and revenue requirement analysis, the continuation of a fuel review for Entergy Gulf States, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all prudence issues associated with decisions made through May 2005 related to the nuclear plant uprates at issue in these cases, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the System Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agreement case at FERC. In addition, Entergy Gulf States agreed not to see k recovery from customers of $2 million of excess refund amounts associated with the fourth through the eighth annual earnings reviews. The credits were issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Gulf States previously reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

The settlement includes the establishment of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Gulf States that, among other provisions, establishes an ROE mid-point of 10.65% for the initial three-year term of the plan and permits Entergy Gulf States to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside the allowed range of 9.9% to 11.4% will be allocated 60% to the customers and 40% to Entergy Gulf States. In addition, there is the potential to extend the formula rate plan beyond the initial three-year effective period by mutual agreement of the LPSC and Entergy Gulf States. Under the settlement, there was no change to Entergy Gulf States' retail rates at that time.

In June 2005, the Alliance for Affordable Energy and an individual plaintiff filed an appeal in the 19th Judicial District Court for the parish of East Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The plaintiffs allege that neither Entergy Gulf States nor the LPSC published notice that a formula rate plan was to be considered as part of the settlement and that the LPSC order should be set aside as null and void and without effect because the Louisiana Constitution requires that notice be published when a utility files a proposed rate schedule that would result in a change in rates. Management believes the plaintiffs' claim is without merit and expects to intervene in the proceeding to oppose the appeal.

In June 2005, Entergy Gulf States made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the test year ending December 31, 2004. The filing shows a net revenue deficiency of $2.58 million indicating that no refund liability exists. The filing also indicates that a prospective rate increase of $23.8 million is required in order for Entergy Gulf States to earn the authorized ROE mid-point of 10.65%. Subject to the consideration of comments expected to be filed by the LPSC staff and intervenors in the third quarter 2005, rate changes associated with the formula rate plan are scheduled to take effect with the first billing cycle in October 2005.  Any disputed issues will be subject to further investigation by the LPSC, with any resolution of such issues being made effective October 2005.

Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT in July 2005 a request for implementation of an incremental purchased capacity recovery rider, consistent with the recently passed Texas legislation discussed below under "Transition to Retail Competition." The rider requests $23.1 million annually in incremental revenues on a Texas retail basis which represents the incremental purchased capacity costs, including Entergy Gulf States' obligation to purchase power from Entergy Louisiana's recently acquired Perryville plant, over what is already in Entergy Gulf States' base rates. Entergy Gulf States has reached an agreement with parties with respect to the date upon which cost recovery and cost reconciliation would begin.  The parties have agreed that Entergy Gulf States will implement the rider after approval by the PUCT which could be up to 185 days from the date of filing but will reconcile and recover incremental purchased capacity costs incurred beginning September 1, 2005. The September 1, 2005 agreed upon date for the beginning of the cost recovery and cost reconciliation as well as the requested amount and the processes for implementing the rider are subject to PUCT action and approval. If approved by the PUCT, the rider would be subject to semi-annual modifications and reconciliation in conjunction with Entergy Gulf States' fuel reconciliation proceedings. Also see "Transition to Retail Competition" below for discussion of the provisions in the Texas legislation regarding Entergy Gulf States' ability to file a general rate case and for recovery of transition to competition costs.

In July 2004, Entergy Gulf States filed with the LPSC an application for a change in its rates and charges seeking an increase of $9.1 million in gas base rates in order to allow Entergy Gulf States an opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable rate of return. In June 2005, the LPSC unanimously approved Entergy Gulf States' proposed settlement that includes a $5.8 million gas base rate increase effective the first billing cycle of July 2005 and a rate stabilization plan with an ROE mid-point of 10.5%.

Federal Regulation

System Agreement Litigation

On June 1, 2005, the FERC issued a decision in the System Agreement litigation. The domestic utility companies historically have engaged in the coordinated planning, construction, and operation of generating and bulk transmission facilities under the terms of the System Agreement, which has been approved by the FERC. The System Agreement litigation proceedings are described in the Form 10-K.

The FERC decision concluded, among other things, that:

  • The System Agreement no longer roughly equalizes production costs among the domestic utility companies.
  • In order to reach rough production cost equalization, the FERC will impose a bandwidth remedy allowing for a maximum spread of 22 percent (expressed by the FERC as +/- 11%) between the total annual production costs of the highest cost and lowest cost domestic utility companies.
  • When calculating the production costs for this purpose, output from the Vidalia hydroelectric power plant will not reflect the actual Vidalia price for that year but will be priced at that year's average MSS-3 price, reducing the amount of Vidalia costs reflected in the comparison of the domestic utility companies' total production costs.
  • The remedy ordered by FERC calls for no refunds and would be effective based on the calendar year 2006 production costs with the first potential reallocation payments, if required, expected to be made in 2007.

The FERC's June 2005 order would reallocate production costs of the domestic utility companies whose relative total production costs expressed as a percentage of Entergy System average production costs are outside an upper or lower bandwidth. This would be accomplished by payments from domestic utility companies whose production costs are below Entergy System average production costs to domestic utility companies whose production costs are above Entergy System average production costs. An assessment of the potential effects of the FERC's June 2005 order requires assumptions regarding the future total production cost of each domestic utility company, which assumptions include the mix of solid fuel and gas-fired generation available to each company and the costs of natural gas and purchased power.  Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States are more dependent upon gas-fired generation than Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, or Entergy New Orleans. Of these, Entergy Arkansas is the l east dependent upon gas-fired generation.  Therefore, increases in natural gas prices likely will increase the amount by which Entergy Arkansas' total production costs are below the average production costs of the domestic utility companies.  Considerable uncertainty exists regarding future gas prices. Annual average Henry Hub gas prices have varied significantly over recent years, ranging from $1.72/mmBtu to $5.85/mmBtu for the 1995-2004 period, and averaging $3.43/mmBtu during the ten-year period 1995-2004 and $4.58/mmBtu during the five-year period 2000-2004.  Recent market conditions have resulted in gas prices that have averaged $5.85/mmBtu for the twelve months ended December 2004. During the 12 month period July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 forward gas contracts for each of the next four years based on daily NYMEX close averaged $6.68/mmBtu (2006), $6.25/mmBtu (2007), $5.88/mmBtu (2008) and $5.58/mmBtu (2009). If the FERC's June 2005 order becomes final and if these gas prices occur as assumed, the following potential annual production cost reallocations among the domestic utility companies could result during the 2007-2010 period:

 

Range of Annual Payments
or (Receipts)

 

Average Annual
Payment or (Receipt)

 

(In Millions)

       

Entergy Arkansas

$143 to $210 

 

$166 

Entergy Gulf States

($134) to ($87)

 

($113)

Entergy Louisiana

($71) to ($10)

 

($38)

Entergy Mississippi

($28) to $0 

 

($11)

Entergy New Orleans

($10) to $0 

 

($4)

If natural gas prices deviate by $1/mmBtu up or down, it is expected that Entergy Arkansas' annual payments will change in the same direction by approximately $60 to $70 million.

Various pending motions for rehearing and clarification of the FERC's June 2005 order were filed by parties to the proceeding, including the LPSC, the APSC, the MPSC, and the City Council, and by Entergy Services, Inc., on behalf of the domestic utility companies. Among other things, the LPSC's motion urged the FERC to "clarify" that the FERC's order requires the payments and receipts, to the extent any are required, to be made in 2006 based on production costs incurred in 2004 and 2005. Entergy does not believe that this request for "clarification" is consistent with the FERC order and submitted a response urging the FERC to reject this interpretation and instead find that the annual remedy order by the FERC would be evaluated based on calendar year 2006 production costs, with the first potential payments/receipts, if any were required, made in 2007.

Management believes that any changes in the allocation of production costs resulting from the FERC's June 2005 order and related retail proceedings should result in similar rate changes for retail customers. The timing of recovery of these costs in rates could be the subject of additional proceedings before Entergy's retail regulators. Although the outcome and timing of the FERC and other proceedings cannot be predicted at this time, Entergy Gulf States does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

See the Form 10-K for discussion of the proceeding that the LPSC commenced before itself regarding the System Agreement. As noted above in "State and Local Rate Regulation", the settlement of various issues involving Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana that was approved by the LPSC has resolved the System Agreement proceeding before the LPSC, which has been dismissed without prejudice.

Transmission

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the petition for declaratory order that Entergy filed with the FERC in January 2005 regarding Entergy's Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT) proposal. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued a declaratory order concluding that: (1) because the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) was the only entity identified as potentially being selected as the ICT and because the SPP is already a "public utility" there was no need to rule on the question of whether the functions of the ICT, alone, would serve to make the ICT a "public utility;" (2) Entergy will continue to be the "transmission provider" for transmission service across its system and that "the presence of SPP as the ICT will not change the existing balance of jurisdiction between [the FERC] and Entergy's retail regulators;" and (3) the FERC "is prepared to grant Entergy's proposed transmission pricing proposal on a two-year experimental basis, subject to certain enhancement and monitoring and reportin g conditions." The enhancements referred to by the FERC involve more fully specifying the responsibilities and duties of the ICT, including defining the ICT's role in the preparation of various transmission expansion plans and the performance of studies related to the granting of transmission or interconnection service. Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal.

On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy.

On April 21, 2005 Entergy filed a request for clarification or rehearing of the FERC's March 22 declaratory order requesting that the FERC clarify the respective role of Entergy and the ICT in developing the inputs or criteria used to create the base plan and in preparing certain studies regarding system expansion. The request for clarification further requests that the FERC clarify that the initial two-year period will commence with the actual start date of ICT operations. In the event that the FERC denies Entergy's request for clarification, then Entergy will seek rehearing on these issues. However, in its request, Entergy requested that FERC not rule on these issues at this time but, instead, that the FERC wait to evaluate these issues until such time as Entergy has filed the more detailed tariff sheets and protocols in its subsequent filing to implement the ICT. Separately, Entergy submitted a letter advising the FERC that it intended to submit on or about May 27, 2005 the filing t o implement the ICT proposal. A joint request for rehearing of the ICT declaratory order was also filed by the City Council, the LPSC, and the MPSC in which the retail regulators expressed their concerns that the findings reached in the declaratory order may result in an expansion of authority of the ICT "that is unnecessary to achieve the [FERC's] goals and is very likely to result in significant increases in the start-up and operational costs of the ICT." The retail regulators request that the FERC not act on their request for rehearing until Entergy has submitted its filing to implement the ICT. The intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

On May 12, 2005 the FERC issued an order clarifying certain aspects of its March 22 order. In the May 12 order, the FERC indicated that (1) Entergy is to work with the ICT and Entergy's stakeholders to develop procedures by which the ICT will calculate AFCs; (2) Entergy must specifically define the transmission rights that a customer that pays for supplemental upgrades will receive for such payments; (3) the FERC will review the ICT's contract to ensure that the ICT can perform its functions in an independent manner even if SPP is chosen as the ICT; and (4) the initial two-year period will start once the ICT becomes operational.

On May 27, 2005, the domestic utility companies filed the enhanced ICT proposal with the FERC. Entergy believes that the filing is consistent with the FERC guidance received in both the FERC's March 22 and May 12 orders on the ICT. Among other things, the enhanced ICT filing states that the ICT will (1) grant or deny transmission service on the domestic utility companies' transmission system; (2) administer the domestic utility companies' OASIS node for purposes of processing and evaluating transmission service requests and ensuring compliance with the domestic utility companies' obligation to post transmission-related information; (3) develop a base plan for the domestic utility companies' transmission system that will result in the ICT making the determination on whether something should be rolled into the domestic utility companies' transmission rates or directly assigned to the customer requesting or causing an upgrade to be constructed; (4) serve as the reliability coordinator for t he Entergy transmission system; and (5) oversee the operation of the weekly procurement process. The enhanced ICT proposal clarifies the rights that customers receive when they fund a supplemental upgrade and also contains a detailed methodology describing the process by which the ICT will evaluate interconnection-related investments already made on the Entergy System for purposes of determining the future allocation of the uncredited portion of these investments.

On June 3, 2005 a group of generators filed with the FERC a request that the FERC schedule a technical conference on the enhanced ICT proposal in order for Entergy to provide additional information on the enhanced ICT proposal. In response, a stakeholder meeting was held in New Orleans on June 30, 2005. Interventions and comments on the filing are due by August 5, 2005.

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is currently scheduled for August 2005, however certain intervenors have recently requested that the hearing be delayed until mid-September 2005.

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of proceedings at the FERC involving Entergy's Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued an order contemporaneously with the ICT declaratory order discussed above that holds the AFC hearing in abeyance pending action on Entergy's upcoming ICT filing. The order holding the hearing in abeyance further indicated that it would cancel the hearing when the ICT begins to perform its functions. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed Emergency Motions for Interim Relief and Expedited Commission Action requesting that, during the interim period before the implementation of the ICT, the FERC (1) institute an audit process to examine and modify Entergy's current AFC process; and (2) require SPP to become involved in the AFC stakeholder process and order certain modifications to Entergy's stakeholder process. The audit process being proposed by the intervenors would not involve an independent auditor, but instead wou ld be an investigation performed by a representative from the intervenors, Entergy, and possibly SPP.  On April 25, 2005, Entergy filed its response to the emergency motion urging the FERC to reject the intervenors' request for the "audit" because the type of investigation proposed by the intervenors would be neither independent nor fair and would only distract from the implementation of the ICT.  Instead, Entergy has proposed that the ICT conduct an independent review of the AFC process and procedures as part of its transition to assuming the identified ICT responsibilities, including the calculation of the AFCs.  Entergy further indicated that it would welcome SPP's participation in the current stakeholder process. On April 21, 2005, the intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing arguing that the FERC must allow the AFC hearing to proceed in parallel with the establishment of the ICT. See "Transmission" above for further discussion of AFC.

Transition to Retail Competition

Texas

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the status of retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory and Entergy Gulf States' independent organization request.

In June 2005, a Texas law was enacted which provides that:

  • Entergy Gulf States is authorized by the legislation to proceed with a jurisdictional separation into two vertically integrated utilities, one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the LPSC and one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the PUCT;
  • the portions of all prior PUCT orders requiring Entergy Gulf States to comply with any provisions of Texas law governing transition to retail competition are void;
  • Entergy Gulf States must file a plan by January 1, 2006, identifying the power region(s) to be considered for certification and the steps and schedule to achieve certification;
  • Entergy Gulf States must file a transition to competition plan no later than January 1, 2007, that would address how Entergy Gulf States intends to mitigate market power and achieve full customer choice, including potential construction of additional transmission facilities, generation auctions, generation capacity divestiture, reinstatement of a customer choice pilot project, establishment of a price to beat, and other measures;
  • Entergy Gulf States' rates are subject to cost-of-service regulation until retail customer choice is implemented;
  • Entergy Gulf States may not file a general base rate case in Texas before June 30, 2007, with rates effective no earlier than June 30, 2008, but may seek before then the annual recovery of certain incremental purchased power capacity costs, adjusted for load growth, not in excess of five percent of its annual base rate revenues (as discussed above in "State and Local Rate Regulation, " in July 2005, Entergy Gulf States filed a request for implementation of an incremental purchased capacity recovery rider); and
  • Entergy Gulf States may recover over a period not to exceed 15 years reasonable and necessary transition to competition costs incurred before the effective date of the legislation and not previously recovered, with appropriate carrying charges.

Jurisdictional Separation Plan

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the LPSC proceedings regarding the proposed separation of Entergy Gulf States business into a Louisiana-based vertically integrated utility company and a Texas-based vertically integrated utility company. The hearing before the LPSC scheduled for late June 2005 has been postponed.

Federal Legislation

In late July 2005 the U.S. Congress passed broad new energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The legislation contains electricity provisions that, among other things:

  • Repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA), effective six months after enactment of the Energy Policy Act. As a registered holding company system, Entergy is subject to PUHCA. Some of the more significant effects of PUHCA are that it limits the operations of a registered holding company system to a single, integrated public utility system; regulates transactions among affiliates within a holding company system; governs the issuance, acquisition, and disposition of securities and assets by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries; limits the entry by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries into businesses other than electric or gas utility businesses; and requires SEC approval for certain utility mergers and acquisitions. Certain consumer protection authorities were transferred to the FERC, including new authority over utility mergers and acquisitions, and to the state or local regulatory commissions.
  • Codifies the concept of participant funding, a form of cost allocation for transmission interconnections and upgrades, and allows FERC to apply participant funding in all regions of the country. Participant funding helps ensure that a utility's native load customers only bear the costs that are necessary to provide reliable transmission service to them and not bear costs required by generators who seek to deliver power to other regions.
  • Provides financing benefits, including loan guarantees and production tax credits, for new nuclear plant construction, and reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act, the law that provides an umbrella of insurance protection for the payment of public liability claims in the event of a major nuclear power plant incident.
  • Revises current tax law treatment of nuclear decommissioning trust funds by allowing regulated and nonregulated taxpayers to make deductible contributions to fund the entire amount of estimated future decommissioning costs.
  • Provides a more rapid tax depreciation schedule for transmission assets t o encourage investment.
  • Creates mandatory electricity reliability guidelines with enforceable penalties to help ensure that the nation's power transmission grid is kept in good repair and that disruptions in the electricity system are minimized.  Entergy already voluntarily complies with National Electricity Reliability Council standards, which are similar.
  • Establishes conditions for the elimination of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act's (PURPA) mandatory purchase obligation from qualifying facilities.

The President is expected to sign the Energy Policy Act in August 2005. The Energy Power Act requires several rulemakings by the FERC and other government agencies in order to implement its provisions. Therefore, it will be some time before a full assessment of its effect on Entergy and the energy industry can be completed.

Central States Compact Claim

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 holds each state responsible for disposal of low-level radioactive waste originating in that state, but allows states to participate in regional compacts to fulfill their responsibilities jointly.  Arkansas and Louisiana participate in the Central Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact (Central States Compact or Compact).  Commencing in 1998, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana made a series of contributions to the Central States Compact to fund the Central States Compact's development of a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility to be located in Boyd County, Nebraska.  In December 1998, Nebraska, the host state for the proposed Central States Compact disposal facility, denied the compact's license application for the proposed disposal facility.  Several parties, including the commission that governs the compact (the Compact Commission), filed a lawsuit against Nebraska seeking damages resulting from Nebraska's denial of the proposed facility's license.  After a trial, the U.S. District Court concluded that Nebraska violated its good faith obligations regarding the proposed waste disposal facility and rendered a judgment against Nebraska in the amount of $151 million.  In August 2004, Nebraska agreed to pay the Compact $141 million in settlement of the judgment. In July 2005, the Compact Commission decided to distribute a substantial portion of the proceeds from the settlement to the nuclear power generators that had contributed funding for the Boyd County facility, including Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana. On August 1, 2005, Nebraska paid the full amount of the settlement to the Compact, and the Compact distributed from the settlement proceeds $23.6 million to Entergy Arkansas, $19.9 million to Entergy Gulf States, and $18.4 million to Entergy Louisiana.  Management is still analyzing the accounting treatment of the  r eceipts, but expects that some portion of the receipts could result in income for Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana.

Critical Accounting Estimates

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy Gulf States' accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, SFAS 143, the application of SFAS 71, unbilled revenue, and pension and other postretirement benefits.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter 2005, FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, "Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143" (FIN 47). FIN 47 requires companies to recognize at fair value a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred, which is generally upon an asset's acquisition, construction, development, or through its normal operation. A conditional asset retirement obligation is generally a legal obligation to incur costs to remove an asset or part of an asset, such as an obligation to comply with environmental regulations and requirements. The obligation is conditional because there is currently no legal requirement to retire or remove the facility that the affected asset is a part of. FIN 47 requires that uncertainty about the timing or method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information becomes available. FIN 4 7 will be effective for Entergy no later than December 31, 2005. Entergy does not believe that the adoption of FIN 47 will be material to its financial position or results of operations because it estimates that any conditional asset retirement obligations required to be recognized under FIN 47 would be offset by a regulatory asset because of the expected recovery of these future costs in rates.

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    2005   2004   2005   2004
    (In Thousands)   (In Thousands)
                 
OPERATING REVENUES                
Domestic electric   $746,987    $674,283    $1,399,383    $1,286,654 
Natural gas   12,532    11,030    39,387    37,655 
TOTAL   759,519    685,313    1,438,770    1,324,309 
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Operation and Maintenance:                
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and                
   gas purchased for resale   147,889    131,961    367,845    309,674 
  Purchased power   314,372    260,402    532,108    462,056 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   4,525    3,172    8,596    6,365 
  Other operation and maintenance   124,428    111,805    233,121    203,634 
Decommissioning   2,346    3,798    4,644    7,528 
Taxes other than income taxes   28,937    27,335    59,475    57,057 
Depreciation and amortization   50,605    48,461    99,341    94,329 
Other regulatory credits - net   (5,581)   (3,453)   (5,702)   (6,477)
TOTAL   667,521    583,481    1,299,428    1,134,166 
                 
OPERATING INCOME   91,998    101,832    139,342    190,143 
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   4,207    2,526    9,006    5,047 
Interest and dividend income   3,415    3,172    6,850    7,021 
Miscellaneous - net   (24)   10,614    624    12,495 
TOTAL   7,598    16,312    16,480    24,563 
                 
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
Interest on long-term debt   28,214    29,152    56,438    64,539 
Other interest - net   2,397    906    4,382    2,720 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (2,499)   (1,853)   (5,505)   (3,768)
TOTAL   28,112    28,205    55,315    63,491 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   71,484    89,939    100,507    151,215 
                 
Income taxes   27,197    34,348    32,871    53,896 
                 
NET INCOME   44,287    55,591    67,636    97,319 
                 
Preferred dividend requirements and other   1,063    1,123    2,126    2,273 
                  
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO                
COMMON STOCK   $43,224    $54,468    $65,510    $95,046 
                 
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.                
                 

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $67,636    $97,319 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments   (62,423)   7,236 
  Other regulatory credits - net   (5,702)   (6,477)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   103,985    101,857 
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   25,014    20,490 
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   (28,123)   19,209 
    Fuel inventory   (259)   (442)
    Accounts payable   89,218    18,459 
    Taxes accrued   3,395    52,369 
    Interest accrued   266    (6,144)
    Deferred fuel costs   (3,267)   15,505 
    Other working capital accounts   5,914    8,057 
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   345    (11,298)
  Changes in other regulatory assets   (7,960)   (849)
  Other   (1,955)   (23,974)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   186,084    291,317 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (153,136)   (144,767)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   9,006    5,047 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (371)   (6,672)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   438    6,672 
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized        
 change in trust assets   (5,945)   (5,872)
Changes in other investments - net   2,629    23,579 
Other regulatory investments   (27,906)   (30,696)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (175,285)   (152,709)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   282,772    - 
Retirement of long-term debt   (268,229)   (292,000)
Redemption of preferred stock   (2,250)   (2,250)
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (25,600)   (30,900)
  Preferred stock   (2,139)   (2,260)
Net cash flow used in financing activities   (15,446)   (327,410)
         
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (4,647)   (188,802)
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   6,974    206,030 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $2,327    $17,228 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $56,788    $69,897 
  Income taxes   $14,450    - - 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
         
    2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
       
CURRENT ASSETS            
Cash and cash equivalents:            
  Cash       $2,244   $5,627
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,            
   which approximates market       83   1,347
     Total cash and cash equivalents       2,327   6,974
Accounts receivable:            
  Customer       114,496   124,801
  Allowance for doubtful accounts       (1,791)   (2,687)
  Associated companies       24,182   13,980
  Other       49,092   40,697
  Accrued unbilled revenues       156,654   137,719
     Total accounts receivable       342,633   314,510
Deferred fuel costs       118,265   90,124
Accumulated deferred income taxes       1,301   14,339
Fuel inventory - at average cost       49,917   49,658
Materials and supplies - at average cost       104,156   101,922
Prepayments and other       17,128   20,556
TOTAL       635,727   598,083
             
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Decommissioning trust funds       301,271   290,952
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)       94,203   94,052
Other       20,616   22,012
TOTAL       416,090   407,016
             
UTILITY PLANT        
Electric       8,593,692   8,418,119
Natural gas       83,684   78,627
Construction work in progress       272,345   331,703
Nuclear fuel under capital lease       60,703   71,279
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT       9,010,424   8,899,728
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization       4,115,750   4,047,182
UTILITY PLANT - NET       4,894,674   4,852,546
             
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:            
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net       457,090   444,799
  Other regulatory assets       285,935   285,017
Long-term receivables       18,651   23,228
Other       33,082   44,713
TOTAL       794,758   797,757
             
TOTAL ASSETS       $6,741,249   $6,655,402
             
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.            
 
 
 
ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
    2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt       $98,000   $98,000
Accounts payable:            
  Associated companies       261,800   153,069
  Other       127,824   147,337
Customer deposits       56,476   53,229
Taxes accrued       31,020   22,882
Nuclear refueling outage costs       6,021   - -
Interest accrued       33,008   32,742
Obligations under capital leases       33,516   33,518
Other       18,513   19,912
TOTAL       666,178   560,689
             
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued       1,555,524   1,533,804
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits       135,762   138,616
Obligations under capital leases       27,187   37,711
Other regulatory liabilities       36,947   34,009
Decommissioning and retirement cost liabilities       158,859   152,095
Transition to competition       79,098   79,098
Regulatory reserves       15,871   81,455
Accumulated provisions       69,645   66,875
Long-term debt       1,908,013   1,891,478
Preferred stock with sinking fund       15,150   17,400
Other       200,269   229,408
TOTAL       4,202,325   4,261,949
             
Commitments and Contingencies            
             
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Preferred stock without sinking fund       47,327   47,327
Common stock, no par value, authorized 200,000,000            
 shares; issued and outstanding 100 shares in 2005 and 2004       114,055   114,055
Paid-in capital       1,157,486   1,157,486
Retained earnings       553,092   513,182
Accumulated other comprehensive income       786   714
TOTAL       1,872,746   1,832,764
             
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY       $6,741,249   $6,655,402
             
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.            
             

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
         
        Three Months Ended
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
RETAINED EARNINGS                    
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period       $531,068       $453,368    
                     
  Add: Net Income       44,287   $44,287   55,591   $55,591
                     
  Deduct:                    
    Dividends declared on common stock       21,200       24,000    
    Preferred dividend requirements and other       1,063   1,063   1,123   1,123
        22,263       25,123    
                     
Retained Earnings - End of period       $553,092       $483,836    
                     
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE                    
INCOME (Net of Taxes):                    
Balance at beginning of period:                    
 Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       $722       $3,369    
                     
Net derivative instrument fair value changes                    
 arising during the period       64   64   799   799
                     
Balance at end of period:                    
 Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       $786       $4,168    
Comprehensive Income           $43,288       $55,267
                     
                     
        Six Months Ended
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
RETAINED EARNINGS                    
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period       $513,182       $419,690    
                     
  Add: Net Income       67,636   $67,636   97,319   $97,319
                     
  Deduct:                    
    Dividends declared on common stock       25,600       30,900    
    Preferred dividend requirements and other       2,126   2,126   2,273   2,273
        27,726       33,173    
                     
Retained Earnings - End of period       $553,092       $483,836    
                     
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE                    
INCOME (Net of Taxes):                    
Balance at beginning of period:                    
 Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       $714       $3,912    
                     
Net derivative instrument fair value changes                    
 arising during the period       72   72   256   256
                     
Balance at end of period:                    
 Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes       $786       $4,168    
Comprehensive Income           $65,582       $95,302
                     
                     
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.                    
                     

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
                 
    Three Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $174   $185   ($11)   (6)
  Commercial   146   155   (9)   (6)
  Industrial   223   233   (10)   (4)
  Governmental   9   9   - -    - - 
     Total retail   552   582   (30)   (5)
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   21   8   13    163 
    Non-associated companies   43   47   (4)   (9)
  Other   131   37   94    254 
     Total   $747   $674   $73    11 
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   2,124   2,068   56   
  Commercial   2,013   1,985   28   
  Industrial   3,879   4,049   (170)   (4)
  Governmental   109   103    
     Total retail   8,125   8,205   (80)   (1)
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   729   239   490    205 
    Non-associated companies   726   984   (258)   (26)
     Total   9,580   9,428   152   
                 
                 
    Six Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $370   $369   $1    - - 
  Commercial   305   297    
  Industrial   467   445   22   
  Governmental   19   18    
     Total retail   1,161   1,129   32   
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   47   21   26    124 
    Non-associated companies   75   92   (17)   (18)
  Other   116   45   71    158 
     Total   $1,399   $1,287   $112   
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   4,279   4,256   23   
  Commercial   3,927   3,847   80   
  Industrial   7,860   7,972   (112)   (1)
  Governmental   214   214   - -    - - 
     Total retail   16,280   16,289   (9)   - - 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   1,294   550   744    135 
    Non-associated companies   1,265   2,006   (741)   (37)
     Total   18,839   18,845   (6)   - - 
                 
                 

 

ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Results of Operations

Net Income

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net income increased $30.5 million primarily due to higher net revenue and lower depreciation and amortization expenses, partially offset by higher other operation and maintenance expenses and lower other income.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net income increased $11.0 million primarily due to higher net revenue partially offset by higher other operation and maintenance expenses.

Net Revenue

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2005

Net revenue, which is Entergy Louisiana's measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the second quarter of 2005 to the second quarter of 2004.

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$253.1 

Price applied to unbilled sales

 

56.6 

Other

 

1.1 

2005 net revenue

 

$310.8 

The price applied to unbilled sales variance is due to an increase in the fuel cost component of the price applied to unbilled sales in 2005. The fuel cost component is higher because of an increase in natural gas costs and a Waterford 3 refueling outage. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

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

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $34.6 million in fuel cost recovery revenues due to higher fuel rates; and
  • an increase in the price applied to unbilled sales, as discussed above.

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to a shift to higher priced gas and purchased power generation from lower priced nuclear generation due to a refueling outage. The increase was also due to an increase in the market price of natural gas.

Other regulatory credits increased primarily due to the deferral as allowed by the LPSC of capacity charges related to generation resource planning.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy Louisiana's measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the six months ended June 30, 2005 to the six months ended June 30, 2004.

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$450.4 

Price applied to unbilled sales

 

55.9 

Volume/weather

 

(12.6)

Rate refund provisions

 

(8.4)

Other

 

10.2 

2005 net revenue

 

$495.5 

The price applied to unbilled sales variance is due to an increase in the fuel cost component of the price applied to unbilled sales in 2005. The fuel cost component is higher because of an increase in natural gas costs and a Waterford 3 refueling outage. #9; See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The volume/weather variance is due to decreased usage primarily during the unbilled sales period.

The rate refund provisions variance is primarily due to additional provisions recorded in 2005 related to LPSC-approved settlements in March 2005 and May 2005.

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

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to:

  • an increase in the price applied to unbilled sales, as discussed above;
  • an increase of $36.6 million in fuel cost recovery revenues due to higher fuel rates; and
  • an increase of $7.4 million in gross wholesale revenue due to increased sales to affiliated systems.

The increase was partially offset by the volume/weather variance and the rate refund provisions variance discussed above.

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to a shift from lower priced nuclear generation to higher priced gas and purchased power generation as a result of a refueling outage. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in the recovery from customers of deferred fuel costs.

Other regulatory credits increased primarily due to the deferral as allowed by the LPSC of capacity charges related to generation resource planning.

Other Income Statement Variances

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to:

The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $4.1 million in contract costs as a result of maintenance outages at fossil plants in 2004.

Depreciation and amortization expenses decreased primarily due to a change in the depreciation rate for Waterford 3 as approved by the LPSC effective April 2005.

Other income decreased primarily due to the write-off of $7.1 million in June 2005 of a portion of the customer care system investment and the related allowance for equity funds used during construction pursuant to an LPSC-approved settlement. The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $2.1 million in interest income earned primarily on deferred fuel and capacity charges.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $5.9 million in payroll and benefits costs;
  • an increase of $5.0 million in nuclear expenses due to the timing of contract and material costs; and
  • an increase of $1.8 million in estimated loss provisions recorded for the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the domestic utility companies.

Other income decreased primarily due to the write-off of $7.1 million in June 2005 of a portion of the customer care system investment and the related allowance for equity funds used during construction pursuant to an LPSC-approved settlement. The decrease was substantially offset by the following:

  • an increase in the allowance for equity funds used during construction due to an increase in construction expenditures; and
  • an increase in interest and dividend income primarily due to interest earned on deferred capacity charges and on temporary cash investments.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 40.0% and 38.5%, respectively. The effective income tax rates for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were 39.8% and 38.1%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to state income taxes, book and tax differences related to utility plant items, and a federal tax reserve estimate revision necessary to appropriately provide for prior tax periods. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items, partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits and book and tax differences related to the allowance for funds used during construction. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the second quarter 2 004 and the six months ended June 30, 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items and state income taxes, partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$146,049 

 

$8,787 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

220,270 

 

89,012 

 

Investing activities

 

(335,554)

 

(98,594)

 

Financing activities

 

(28,246)

 

53,144 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(143,530)

 

43,562 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$2,519 

 

$52,349 

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operations increased $131.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to money pool activity, which provided $151.2 million of Entergy Louisiana's operating cash flows in the first six months of 2005 and used $84.9 million in the first six months of 2004. The increase was partially offset by decreased recovery of deferred fuel costs. Entergy Louisiana's receivables from or (payables to) the money pool were as follows:

June 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

June 30,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($110,658)

 

$40,549

 

$43,577

 

($41,317)

See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Investing Activities

The increase of $237.0 million in net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 is primarily due to:

  • Entergy Louisiana purchasing the Perryville plant in June 2005 for $162.5 million. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this acquisition. In April 2005, the LPSC approved the acquisition and the long-term cost-of-service purchased power agreement under which Entergy Gulf States will purchase 75 percent of the plant's output.
  • An increase in spending on transmission and nuclear projects, including the Waterford 3 uprate project completed in June 2005.
  • An increase of $19.8 million in capacity costs that have been deferred and are expected to be recovered over a period greater than twelve months.

Financing Activities

Entergy Louisiana used $28.2 million of cash for financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to providing $53.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to the issuance of $100 million of 5.5% Series First Mortgage Bonds in March 2004, partially offset by a principal payment of $14.8 million in 2004 on the Waterford 3 Lease Obligation. See Note 3 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements for the details of Entergy Louisiana's long-term debt activity in 2005.

Uses and Sources of Capital

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

In May 2005, Entergy Louisiana entered into a credit facility for $85 million and Entergy Arkansas renewed its $85 million credit facility with the same lender. Either company can borrow up to the full amount on its respective facility, but at no time can the combined amount of outstanding borrowings on the two facilities exceed $85 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under either credit facility as of June 30, 2005.

In July 2005, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans renewed their 364-day credit facilities with the same lender through May 2006. Entergy New Orleans increased the amount of its credit facility to $15 million, the same amount as Entergy Louisiana's facility. Either company can borrow up to the full amount on its respective facility, but at no time can the combined amount of outstanding borrowings on the two facilities exceed $15 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under either credit facility as of June 30, 2005.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of utility restructuring, state rate regulation, federal regulation and proceedings, industrial and commercial customers, market and credit risks, nuclear matters, environmental risks, and litigation risks. Following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

State and Local Rate Regulation

In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement resulted in credits of $14 million for retail electricity customers of Entergy Louisiana. The settlement dismissed, among other dockets, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for Entergy Louisiana for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all prudence issues associated with decisions made through May 2005 related to the nuclear plant uprates at issue in these cases, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the System Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agreement case at FERC. In addition, Entergy Louisiana agreed to forgo recovery of $3.5 million of deferred 2003 capacity costs associated with certain power purchase agreements. The credits were issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Louisiana reserved for the approximate refund amoun ts.

Refer to "State Rate Regulation" in the Form 10-K for discussion of Entergy Louisiana's rate filing with the LPSC requesting a base rate increase. In March 2005, the LPSC staff and Entergy Louisiana filed a proposed settlement that included an annual base rate increase of approximately $18.3 million which was implemented, subject to refund, effective with May 2005 billings. In May 2005, the LPSC approved a modified settlement which, among other things, reduces depreciation and decommissioning expense due to assuming a life extension of Waterford 3 and results in no change in rates. Subsequently, in June 2005, Entergy Louisiana made a revised compliance filing with the LPSC supporting a revised depreciation rate for Waterford 3, which reflects the removal of interim additions, and a rate increase from the purchase of the Perryville power plant, which results in a net $0.8 million annual rate reduction. Entergy Louisiana reduced rates effective with the first billing cycle in June 2005 and expects to refund excess revenue collected during May 2005, including interest, in the third quarter of 2005.

The May 2005 rate settlement includes the adoption of a three-year formula rate plan, the terms of which include an ROE mid-point of 10.25% for the initial three-year term of the plan and permit Entergy Louisiana to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an allowed regulatory earnings range of 9.45% to 11.05% will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Louisiana. The initial formula rate plan filing will be in May 2006 based on a 2005 test year with rates effective September 2006. In addition, there is the potential to extend the formula rate plan beyond the initial three-year effective period by mutual agreement of the LPSC and Entergy Louisiana.

Federal Regulation

System Agreement Litigation

On June 1, 2005, the FERC issued a decision in the System Agreement litigation. The domestic utility companies historically have engaged in the coordinated planning, construction, and operation of generating and bulk transmission facilities under the terms of the System Agreement, which has been approved by the FERC. The System Agreement litigation proceedings are described in the Form 10-K.

The FERC decision concluded, among other things, that:

  • The System Agreement no longer roughly equalizes production costs among the domestic utility companies.
  • In order to reach rough production cost equalization, the FERC will impose a bandwidth remedy allowing for a maximum spread of 22 percent (expressed by the FERC as +/- 11%) between the total annual production costs of the highest cost and lowest cost domestic utility companies.
  • When calculating the production costs for this purpose, output from the Vidalia hydroelectric power plant will not reflect the actual Vidalia price for that year but will be priced at that year's average MSS-3 price, reducing the amount of Vidalia costs reflected in the comparison of the domestic utility companies' total production costs.
  • The remedy ordered by FERC calls for no refunds and would be effective based on the calendar year 2006 production costs with the first potential reallocation payments, if required, expected to be made in 2007.

The FERC's June 2005 order would reallocate production costs of the domestic utility companies whose relative total production costs expressed as a percentage of Entergy System average production costs are outside an upper or lower bandwidth. This would be accomplished by payments from domestic utility companies whose production costs are below Entergy System average production costs to domestic utility companies whose production costs are above Entergy System average production costs. An assessment of the potential effects of the FERC's June 2005 order requires assumptions regarding the future total production cost of each domestic utility company, which assumptions include the mix of solid fuel and gas-fired generation available to each company and the costs of natural gas and purchased power.  Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States are more dependent upon gas-fired generation than Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, or Entergy New Orleans. Of these, Entergy Arkansas is the l east dependent upon gas-fired generation.  Therefore, increases in natural gas prices likely will increase the amount by which Entergy Arkansas' total production costs are below the average production costs of the domestic utility companies.  Considerable uncertainty exists regarding future gas prices. Annual average Henry Hub gas prices have varied significantly over recent years, ranging from $1.72/mmBtu to $5.85/mmBtu for the 1995-2004 period, and averaging $3.43/mmBtu during the ten-year period 1995-2004 and $4.58/mmBtu during the five-year period 2000-2004.  Recent market conditions have resulted in gas prices that have averaged $5.85/mmBtu for the twelve months ended December 2004. During the 12 month period July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 forward gas contracts for each of the next four years based on daily NYMEX close averaged $6.68/mmBtu (2006), $6.25/mmBtu (2007), $5.88/mmBtu (2008) and $5.58/mmBtu (2009). If the FERC's June 2005 order becomes final and if these gas prices occur as assumed, the following potential annual production cost reallocations among the domestic utility companies could result during the 2007-2010 period:

 

Range of Annual Payments
or (Receipts)

 

Average Annual
Payment or (Receipt)

 

(In Millions)

       

Entergy Arkansas

$143 to $210 

 

$166 

Entergy Gulf States

($134) to ($87)

 

($113)

Entergy Louisiana

($71) to ($10)

 

($38)

Entergy Mississippi

($28) to $0 

 

($11)

Entergy New Orleans

($10) to $0 

 

($4)

If natural gas prices deviate by $1/mmBtu up or down, it is expected that Entergy Arkansas' annual payments will change in the same direction by approximately $60 to $70 million.

Various pending motions for rehearing and clarification of the FERC's June 2005 order were filed by parties to the proceeding, including the LPSC, the APSC, the MPSC, and the City Council, and by Entergy Services, Inc., on behalf of the domestic utility companies. Among other things, the LPSC's motion urged the FERC to "clarify" that the FERC's order requires the payments and receipts, to the extent any are required, to be made in 2006 based on production costs incurred in 2004 and 2005. Entergy does not believe that this request for "clarification" is consistent with the FERC order and submitted a response urging the FERC to reject this interpretation and instead find that the annual remedy order by the FERC would be evaluated based on calendar year 2006 production costs, with the first potential payments/receipts, if any were required, made in 2007.

Management believes that any changes in the allocation of production costs resulting from the FERC's June 2005 order and related retail proceedings should result in similar rate changes for retail customers. The timing of recovery of these costs in rates could be the subject of additional proceedings before Entergy's retail regulators. Although the outcome and timing of the FERC and other proceedings cannot be predicted at this time, Entergy Louisiana does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

See the Form 10-K for discussion of the proceeding that the LPSC commenced before itself regarding the System Agreement. As noted above in "State and Local Rate Regulation," the settlement of various issues involving Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana that was approved by the LPSC has resolved the System Agreement proceeding before the LPSC, which has been dismissed without prejudice.

Transmission

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the petition for declaratory order that Entergy filed with the FERC in January 2005 regarding Entergy's Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT) proposal. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued a declaratory order concluding that: (1) because the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) was the only entity identified as potentially being selected as the ICT and because the SPP is already a "public utility" there was no need to rule on the question of whether the functions of the ICT, alone, would serve to make the ICT a "public utility;" (2) Entergy will continue to be the "transmission provider" for transmission service across its system and that "the presence of SPP as the ICT will not change the existing balance of jurisdiction between [the FERC] and Entergy's retail regulators;" and (3) the FERC "is prepared to grant Entergy's proposed transmission pricing proposal on a two-year experimental basis, subject to certain enhancement and monitoring and reportin g conditions." The enhancements referred to by the FERC involve more fully specifying the responsibilities and duties of the ICT, including defining the ICT's role in the preparation of various transmission expansion plans and the performance of studies related to the granting of transmission or interconnection service. Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal.

On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy.

On April 21, 2005 Entergy filed a request for clarification or rehearing of the FERC's March 22 declaratory order requesting that the FERC clarify the respective role of Entergy and the ICT in developing the inputs or criteria used to create the base plan and in preparing certain studies regarding system expansion. The request for clarification further requests that the FERC clarify that the initial two-year period will commence with the actual start date of ICT operations. In the event that the FERC denies Entergy's request for clarification, then Entergy will seek rehearing on these issues. However, in its request, Entergy requested that FERC not rule on these issues at this time but, instead, that the FERC wait to evaluate these issues until such time as Entergy has filed the more detailed tariff sheets and protocols in its subsequent filing to implement the ICT. Separately, Entergy submitted a letter advising the FERC that it intended to submit on or about May 27, 2005 the filing t o implement the ICT proposal. A joint request for rehearing of the ICT declaratory order was also filed by the City Council, the LPSC, and the MPSC in which the retail regulators expressed their concerns that the findings reached in the declaratory order may result in an expansion of authority of the ICT "that is unnecessary to achieve the [FERC's] goals and is very likely to result in significant increases in the start-up and operational costs of the ICT." The retail regulators request that the FERC not act on their request for rehearing until Entergy has submitted its filing to implement the ICT. The intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

On May 12, 2005 the FERC issued an order clarifying certain aspects of its March 22 order. In the May 12 order, the FERC indicated that (1) Entergy is to work with the ICT and Entergy's stakeholders to develop procedures by which the ICT will calculate AFCs; (2) Entergy must specifically define the transmission rights that a customer that pays for supplemental upgrades will receive for such payments; (3) the FERC will review the ICT's contract to ensure that the ICT can perform its functions in an independent manner even if SPP is chosen as the ICT; and (4) the initial two-year period will start once the ICT becomes operational.

On May 27, 2005, the domestic utility companies filed the enhanced ICT proposal with the FERC. Entergy believes that the filing is consistent with the FERC guidance received in both the FERC's March 22 and May 12 orders on the ICT. Among other things, the enhanced ICT filing states that the ICT will (1) grant or deny transmission service on the domestic utility companies' transmission system; (2) administer the domestic utility companies' OASIS node for purposes of processing and evaluating transmission service requests and ensuring compliance with the domestic utility companies' obligation to post transmission-related information; (3) develop a base plan for the domestic utility companies' transmission system that will result in the ICT making the determination on whether something should be rolled into the domestic utility companies' transmission rates or directly assigned to the customer requesting or causing an upgrade to be constructed; (4) serve as the reliability coordinator for t he Entergy transmission system; and (5) oversee the operation of the weekly procurement process. The enhanced ICT proposal clarifies the rights that customers receive when they fund a supplemental upgrade and also contains a detailed methodology describing the process by which the ICT will evaluate interconnection-related investments already made on the Entergy System for purposes of determining the future allocation of the uncredited portion of these investments.

On June 3, 2005 a group of generators filed with the FERC a request that the FERC schedule a technical conference on the enhanced ICT proposal in order for Entergy to provide additional information on the enhanced ICT proposal. In response, a stakeholder meeting was held in New Orleans on June 30, 2005. Interventions and comments on the filing are due by August 5, 2005.

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is currently scheduled for August 2005, however certain intervenors have recently requested that the hearing be delayed until mid-September 2005.

Interconnection Orders

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the ALJ Initial Decision and FERC order directing Entergy Louisiana to refund, in the form of transmission credits, approximately $15 million in expenses and tax obligations previously paid by a generator. Entergy's request for rehearing was denied by the FERC.

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of proceedings at the FERC involving Entergy's Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued an order contemporaneously with the ICT declaratory order discussed above that holds the AFC hearing in abeyance pending action on Entergy's upcoming ICT filing. The order holding the hearing in abeyance further indicated that it would cancel the hearing when the ICT begins to perform its functions. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed Emergency Motions for Interim Relief and Expedited Commission Action requesting that, during the interim period before the implementation of the ICT, the FERC (1) institute an audit process to examine and modify Entergy's current AFC process; and (2) require SPP to become involved in the AFC stakeholder process and order certain modifications to Entergy's stakeholder process. The audit process being proposed by the intervenors would not involve an independent auditor, but instead wou ld be an investigation performed by a representative from the intervenors, Entergy, and possibly SPP.  On April 25, 2005, Entergy filed its response to the emergency motion urging the FERC to reject the intervenors' request for the "audit" because the type of investigation proposed by the intervenors would be neither independent nor fair and would only distract from the implementation of the ICT.  Instead, Entergy has proposed that the ICT conduct an independent review of the AFC process and procedures as part of its transition to assuming the identified ICT responsibilities, including the calculation of the AFCs.  Entergy further indicated that it would welcome SPP's participation in the current stakeholder process. On April 21, 2005, the intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing arguing that the FERC must allow the AFC hearing to proceed in parallel with the establishment of the ICT. See "Transmission" above for further discussion of AFC.

Federal Legislation

In late July 2005 the U.S. Congress passed broad new energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The legislation contains electricity provisions that, among other things:

  • Repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA), effective six months after enactment of the Energy Policy Act. As a registered holding company system, Entergy is subject to PUHCA. Some of the more significant effects of PUHCA are that it limits the operations of a registered holding company system to a single, integrated public utility system; regulates transactions among affiliates within a holding company system; governs the issuance, acquisition, and disposition of securities and assets by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries; limits the entry by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries into businesses other than electric or gas utility businesses; and requires SEC approval for certain utility mergers and acquisitions. Certain consumer protection authorities were transferred to the FERC, including new authority over utility mergers and acquisitions, and to the state or local regulatory commissions.
  • Codifies the concept of participant funding, a form of cost allocation for transmission interconnections and upgrades, and allows FERC to apply participant funding in all regions of the country. Participant funding helps ensure that a utility's native load customers only bear the costs that are necessary to provide reliable transmission service to them and not bear costs required by generators who seek to deliver power to other regions.
  • Provides financing benefits, including loan guarantees and production tax credits, for new nuclear plant construction, and reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act, the law that provides an umbrella of insurance protection for the payment of public liability claims in the event of a major nuclear power plant incident.
  • Revises current tax law treatment of nuclear decommissioning trust funds by allowing regulated and nonregulated taxpayers to make deductible contributions to fund the entire amount of estimated future decommissioning costs.
  • Provides a more rapid tax depreciation schedule for transmission assets t o encourage investment.
  • Creates mandatory electricity reliability guidelines with enforceable penalties to help ensure that the nation's power transmission grid is kept in good repair and that disruptions in the electricity system are minimized.  Entergy already voluntarily complies with National Electricity Reliability Council standards, which are similar.
  • Establishes conditions for the elimination of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act's (PURPA) mandatory purchase obligation from qualifying facilities.

The President is expected to sign the Energy Policy Act in August 2005. The Energy Power Act requires several rulemakings by the FERC and other government agencies in order to implement its provisions. Therefore, it will be some time before a full assessment of its effect on Entergy and the energy industry can be completed.

Central States Compact Claim

The Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980 holds each state responsible for disposal of low-level radioactive waste originating in that state, but allows states to participate in regional compacts to fulfill their responsibilities jointly.  Arkansas and Louisiana participate in the Central Interstate Low-Level Radioactive Waste Compact (Central States Compact or Compact).  Commencing in 1998, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana made a series of contributions to the Central States Compact to fund the Central States Compact's development of a low-level radioactive waste disposal facility to be located in Boyd County, Nebraska.  In December 1998, Nebraska, the host state for the proposed Central States Compact disposal facility, denied the compact's license application for the proposed disposal facility.  Several parties, including the commission that governs the compact (the Compact Commission), filed a lawsuit against Nebraska seeking damages resulting from Nebraska's denial of the proposed facility's license.  After a trial, the U.S. District Court concluded that Nebraska violated its good faith obligations regarding the proposed waste disposal facility and rendered a judgment against Nebraska in the amount of $151 million.  In August 2004, Nebraska agreed to pay the Compact $141 million in settlement of the judgment. In July 2005, the Compact Commission decided to distribute a substantial portion of the proceeds from the settlement to the nuclear power generators that had contributed funding for the Boyd County facility, including Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana. On August 1, 2005, Nebraska paid the full amount of the settlement to the Compact, and the Compact distributed from the settlement proceeds $23.6 million to Entergy Arkansas, $19.9 million to Entergy Gulf States, and $18.4 million to Entergy Louisiana.  Management is still analyzing the accounting treatment of the  r eceipts, but expects that some portion of the receipts could result in income for Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana.

Entergy Louisiana Corporate Restructuring

On July 13, 2005, Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC an application for authorization to implement a plan of internal restructuring that would, in effect, result in the conversion of its form of business organization from a corporation to a limited liability company. The proposed restructuring is intended to reduce Entergy Louisiana's corporate franchise taxes. The proposed restructuring implements a recommendation from the LPSC staff and, if successfully completed, will result in a decrease in Entergy Louisiana's rates to Louisiana retail customers.

In accordance with the terms of the proposed restructuring, Entergy Louisiana will be converted to a Texas corporation and will hold all the common membership interests in Entergy Louisiana, LLC ("ELL"), a newly organized Texas limited liability company that will be allocated substantially all the assets and liabilities, including debt and lease obligations, of Entergy Louisiana immediately prior to the proposed restructuring. ELL's utility operations would remain subject to the jurisdiction of the LPSC and the FERC to the same extent that they were subject to the jurisdiction of the LPSC and the FERC when they were held by Entergy Louisiana. The proposed restructuring may not be implemented without various authorizations by certain governmental regulatory agencies, including the LPSC, the SEC, the FERC, and the NRC.

In its application to the LPSC, Entergy Louisiana noted that it may redeem a portion of the Entergy Louisiana preferred stock prior to the proposed restructuring and that, if the proposed restructuring is implemented, it anticipates redeeming any remaining Entergy Louisiana preferred stock within three to six months following the implementation of the proposed restructuring.

Any redemption of Entergy Louisiana preferred stock by Entergy Louisiana in connection with the proposed restructuring will be made at the following respective redemption prices as provided in the Entergy Louisiana amended and restated articles of incorporation, whether the redemption occurs before or after the implementation of the proposed restructuring:

Series of Entergy Louisiana Preferred Stock

Redemption Price Per Share

   

4.96% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100.00 par value

$104.25

4.16% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100.00 par value

$104.21

4.44% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100.00 par value

$104.06

5.16% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100.00 par value

$104.18

5.40% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100.00 par value

$103.00

6.44% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100.00 par value

$102.92

7.84% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100.00 par value

$103.78

7.36% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100.00 par value

$103.36

8% Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $25.00 par value

$ 25.00

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 Louisiana's accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, unbilled revenue, and pension and other postretirement costs. The following is an update to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

Nuclear Decommissioning Costs

In the second quarter of 2005, Entergy Louisiana recorded a revision to its estimated decommissioning cost liability in accordance with a new decommissioning cost study for Waterford 3 that assumes a life extension for the plant. The revised estimate resulted in a $153.6 million reduction in its decommissioning liability, along with a $49.2 million reduction in utility plant and a $104.4 million reduction in the related regulatory asset.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter 2005, FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, "Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143" (FIN 47). FIN 47 requires companies to recognize at fair value a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred, which is generally upon an asset's acquisition, construction, development, or through its normal operation. A conditional asset retirement obligation is generally a legal obligation to incur costs to remove an asset or part of an asset, such as an obligation to comply with environmental regulations and requirements. The obligation is conditional because there is currently no legal requirement to retire or remove the facility that the affected asset is a part of. FIN 47 requires that uncertainty about the timing or method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information becomes available. FIN 47 wi ll be effective for Entergy no later than December 31, 2005. Entergy does not believe that the adoption of FIN 47 will be material to its financial position or results of operations because it estimates that any conditional asset retirement obligations required to be recognized under FIN 47 would be offset by a regulatory asset because of the expected recovery of these future costs in rates.

 

ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    2005   2004   2005   2004
    (In Thousands)   (In Thousands)
                 
OPERATING REVENUES                
Domestic electric   $647,748    $555,511    $1,128,421    $1,043,557 
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Operation and Maintenance:                
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and                
   gas purchased for resale   127,564    129,885    265,341    267,664 
  Purchased power   226,690    178,102    397,996    335,832 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   3,397    3,455    6,821    6,632 
  Other operation and maintenance   99,518    93,671    188,156    171,369 
Decommissioning   5,155    5,443    10,872    10,799 
Taxes other than income taxes   18,300    18,259    36,657    34,333 
Depreciation and amortization   43,645    47,951    95,453    94,537 
Other regulatory credits - net   (17,323)   (5,612)   (30,407)   (10,284)
TOTAL   506,946    471,154    970,889    910,882 
                 
OPERATING INCOME   140,802    84,357    157,532    132,675 
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   1,840    1,519    4,377    2,869 
Interest and dividend income   5,074    1,931    8,140    3,658 
Miscellaneous - net   (6,481)   1,282    (6,848)   144 
TOTAL   433    4,732    5,669    6,671 
                 
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
Interest on long-term debt   16,852    17,878    34,691    34,336 
Other interest - net   1,804    1,074    4,823    2,058 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (990)   (905)   (2,489)   (1,881)
TOTAL   17,666    18,047    37,025    34,513 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   123,569    71,042    126,176    104,833 
                 
Income taxes   49,406    27,329    50,242    39,908 
                 
NET INCOME   74,163    43,713    75,934    64,925 
                 
Preferred dividend requirements and other   1,678    1,678    3,357    3,357 
                 
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO                
COMMON STOCK   $72,485    $42,035    $72,577    $61,568 
                 
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $75,934    $64,925 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments   (11,724)   - - 
  Other regulatory credits - net   (30,407)   (10,284)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   106,325    105,336 
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   38,961    30,803 
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   (52,011)   (50,835)
    Accounts payable   119,141    (58,301)
    Taxes accrued   23,337    32,834 
    Interest accrued   (715)   (3,503)
    Deferred fuel costs   (80,330)   (17,039)
    Other working capital accounts   (22,957)   (6,575)
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   2,179    2,953 
  Changes in other regulatory assets   17,229    (11,137)
  Other   35,308    9,835 
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   220,270    89,012 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (151,902)   (93,864)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   4,377    2,869 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (54,158)   - - 
Proceeds from the sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   54,158    - - 
Payment for purchase of plant   (162,075)   - - 
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized        
 change in trust assets   (6,153)   (7,599)
Other regulatory investments   (19,801)   - - 
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (335,554)   (98,594)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   54,611    99,210 
Retirement of long-term debt   (55,000)   (14,809)
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (24,500)   (27,900)
  Preferred stock   (3,357)   (3,357)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   (28,246)   53,144 
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (143,530)   43,562 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   146,049    8,787 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $2,519    $52,349 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $38,574    $38,446 
  Income taxes   $11,114    - - 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $2,519    $3,875 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   - -    142,174 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   2,519    146,049 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   102,973    88,154 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (2,486)   (3,135)
  Associated companies   10,425    43,121 
  Other   13,684    13,070 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   212,078    143,453 
     Total accounts receivable   336,674    284,663 
Deferred fuel costs   88,984    8,654 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   - -    12,712 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   74,501    77,665 
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   23,246    5,605 
Prepayments and other   12,497    6,861 
TOTAL   538,421    542,209 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   14,230    14,230 
Decommissioning trust funds   180,999    172,083 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   21,110    21,176 
Other   4    4 
TOTAL   216,343    207,493 
         
UTILITY PLANT        
Electric   6,264,851    5,985,889 
Property under capital lease   246,853    250,964 
Construction work in progress   111,383    188,848 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   75,353    31,655 
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   6,698,440    6,457,356 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   2,829,721    2,799,936 
UTILITY PLANT - NET   3,868,719    3,657,420 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   124,252    132,686 
  Other regulatory assets   215,051    302,456 
Long-term receivables   8,222    10,736 
Other   27,267    25,994 
TOTAL   374,792    471,872 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $4,998,275    $4,878,994 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
 
 
 
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt   $ -    $55,000 
Accounts payable:        
  Associated companies   174,522    57,681 
  Other   130,823    128,523 
Customer deposits   67,558    66,963 
Taxes accrued   34,718    7,268 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   24,967    - - 
Interest accrued   17,723    18,438 
Obligations under capital leases   22,753    22,753 
Other   10,827    10,428 
TOTAL   483,891    367,054 
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   1,795,528    1,805,410 
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   94,081    96,130 
Obligations under capital leases   52,600    8,903 
Other regulatory liabilities   59,702    51,260 
Decommissioning   204,497    347,255 
Accumulated provisions   94,832    92,653 
Long-term debt   985,707    930,695 
Other   106,541    106,815 
TOTAL   3,393,488    3,439,121 
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Preferred stock without sinking fund   100,500    100,500 
Common stock, no par value, authorized 250,000,000        
 shares; issued 165,173,180 shares in 2005        
 and 2004   1,088,900    1,088,900 
Capital stock expense and other   (1,718)   (1,718)
Retained earnings   53,214    5,137 
Less - treasury stock, at cost (18,202,573 shares in 2005 and 2004)   120,000    120,000 
TOTAL   1,120,896    1,072,819 
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $4,998,275    $4,878,994 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

 

ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
                 
    Three Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $172   $162   $10     6  
  Commercial   122   116   6     5  
  Industrial   198   191   7     4  
  Governmental   10   9   1     11  
     Total retail   502   478   24     5  
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   32   28   4     14  
    Non-associated companies   3   3   -     - -  
  Other   111   47   64     136  
     Total   $648   $556   $92     17  
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   1,894   1,888   6     - -  
  Commercial   1,361   1,357   4     - -  
  Industrial   3,341   3,274   67     2  
  Governmental   108   104   4     4  
      Total retail   6,704   6,623   81     1  
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   285   316   (31)   (10)
    Non-associated companies   31   28   3     11  
     Total   7,020   6,967   53     1  
                 
                 
    Six Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $337   $332   $5    2 
  Commercial   237   230   7    3 
  Industrial   387   377   10    3 
  Governmental   20   18   2    11 
     Total retail   981   957   24    3 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   47   38   9    24 
    Non-associated companies   5   7   (2)   (29)
  Other   95   42   53    126 
     Total   $1,128   $1,044   $84    8 
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   3,823   3,895   (72)   (2)
  Commercial   2,647   2,640   7    - - 
  Industrial   6,457   6,406   51    1 
  Governmental   226   213   13    6 
     Total retail   13,153   13,154   (1)   - - 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   430   422   8    2 
    Non-associated companies   45   122   (77)   (63)
     Total   13,628   13,698   (70)   (1)
                 
                 

 

ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Results of Operations

Net Income

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net income decreased $3.1 million primarily due to higher other operation and maintenance expenses, higher depreciation and amortization expense, and higher taxes other than income taxes, partially offset by lower interest expense.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net income decreased $4.5 million primarily due to higher other operation and maintenance expenses, higher depreciation and amortization expense, and higher taxes other than income taxes, partially offset by higher net revenue and lower interest expense.

Net Revenue

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy Mississippi's measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Net revenue was relatively unchanged comparing the second quarter of 2005 to the second quarter of 2004.

   

Amount

   

(In Millions)

     

2004 net revenue

 

$116.5 

Miscellaneous items

 

(0.1)

2005 net revenue

 

$116.4 

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy Mississippi's measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory credits. Following is an analysis of the change in net revenue comparing the six months ended June 30, 2005 to the six months ended June 30, 2004.

   

Amount

   

(In Millions)

     

2004 net revenue

 

$204.0 

Reserve equalization

 

3.8 

Other

 

0.1 

2005 net revenue

 

$207.9 

The reserve equalization variance is primarily due to purchase power agreement contracts during 2005 which were not in place during 2004.

Other Income Statement Variances

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $1.7 million in payroll and benefits costs; and
  • an increase of $0.9 million in estimated loss provisions recorded for the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the domestic utility companies.

The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $1.1 million in customer service support costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to an increase in plant in service.

Taxes other than income taxes increased primarily due to higher assessment of ad valorem and franchise taxes.

Interest expense decreased primarily due to net redemption of $35 million of First Mortgage Bonds during 2004.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $2.9 million in payroll and benefits costs; and
  • an increase of $2.5 million in fossil plant planned off-peak maintenance outage costs; and
  • an increase of $0.9 million in reserves recorded for the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the domestic utility companies.

The increase was partially offset by a decrease of $1.0 million in customer service support costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to an increase in plant in service.

Taxes other than income taxes increased primarily due to higher assessment of ad valorem and franchise taxes.

Interest expense decreased primarily due to net redemption of $35 million of First Mortgage Bonds during 2004.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 34.9% and 37.0%, respectively. The difference in the effective tax rate for the second quarter of 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items, partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits and book and tax differences related to the allowance of equity funds used during construction. The effective income tax rates for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were 33.5% and 35.8%, respectively. The difference in the effective tax rate for the six months ended June 30, 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to the allowance of equity funds used during construction and the amortization of investment tax credits, partially offset by state income taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$80,396 

 

$63,838 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

16,495 

 

51,564 

 

Investing activities

 

(67,416)

 

(69,180)

 

Financing activities

 

16,255 

 

(28,296)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(34,666)

 

(45,912)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$45,730 

 

$17,926 

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operations decreased $35.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to money pool activity.

Entergy Mississippi's receivables from the money pool were as follows:

June 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

June 30,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$53,488

 

$21,584

 

$12,000

 

$22,076

Money pool activity used $31.9 million of Entergy Mississippi's operating cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and provided $10.1 million of Entergy Mississippi's operating cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2004. See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities decreased $1.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004. Decreased capital expenditures as a result of decreased spending on transmission and fossil plant projects was offset by the maturity in 2004 of $7.5 million of other temporary investments that had been made in 2003, which provided cash in 2004.

Financing Activities

Financing activities provided $16.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to using $28.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to a $30 million issuance of preferred stock in 2005 and the net retirement of $39.5 million of long-term debt during 2004, partially offset by cash provided by a $25 million draw on Entergy Mississippi's short term bank credit facility in 2004. See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements for the details of Entergy Mississippi's preferred stock activity in 2005.

Uses and Sources of Capital

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

See the table in the Form 10-K under "Uses of Capital" which sets forth the amounts of Entergy Mississippi's planned construction and other capital investments for 2005 through 2007. In March 2005, Entergy Mississippi signed an agreement to purchase for $88 million the Attala power plant, a 480 MW natural gas-fired, combined-cycle generating facility owned by Central Mississippi Generating Company (CMGC). Entergy Mississippi plans to invest approximately $20 million in facility upgrades at the Attala plant plus $3 million in other costs, bringing the total capital cost of the project to approximately $111 million. The Attala plant will be 100 percent owned by Entergy Mississippi, and the acquisition is expected to close in late 2005 or early 2006. The purchase of the plant is contingent upon obtaining necessary approvals from various federal agencies, state permitting agencies, and the MPSC, including MPSC approval of investment cost recovery. In May and June 2005, Entergy Mississippi made filings at the MPSC to commence proceedings for MPSC approval both of the acquisition and of the investment cost recovery for the plant. Entergy Mississippi and CMGC had previously executed a purchased power agreement in July 2004 for 100 percent of the plant's output, and this agreement will expire upon the close of the acquisition or in March 2008, whichever occurs earlier. The planned construction and other capital investments line in the table in the Form 10-K includes the estimated cost of the Attala acquisition as a 2006 capital commitment.

In June 2005, Entergy Mississippi issued 1,200,000 shares of $25 par value 6.25% Series Preferred Stock, all of which are outstanding as of June 30, 2005. The dividends are cumulative and will be payable quarterly beginning November 1, 2005. The preferred stock is redeemable on or after July 1, 2010, at Entergy Mississippi's option, at the call price of $25 per share. The proceeds from this issuance were used in the third quarter of 2005 to redeem $20 million of Entergy Mississippi's $100 par value 8.36% Series Preferred Stock and $10 million of Entergy Mississippi's $100 par value 7.44% Series Preferred Stock.

In April 2005, Entergy Mississippi renewed its 364-day credit facility through May 31, 2006. The amount available under the credit facility is $25 million, of which none was drawn at June 30, 2005.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of utility restructuring, state and local rate regulation, federal regulation and proceedings, market and credit risks, state and local regulatory risks, and litigation risks. The following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

State and Local Rate Regulation

In May 2005, the MPSC approved a joint stipulation entered into between the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff and Entergy Mississippi regarding Entergy Mississippi's annual formula rate plan filing that provides for no change in rates based on a performance-adjusted ROE mid-point of 10.50%, establishing an allowed regulatory earnings range of 9.1% to 11.9%.

Federal Regulation

System Agreement Litigation

On June 1, 2005, the FERC issued a decision in the System Agreement litigation. The domestic utility companies historically have engaged in the coordinated planning, construction, and operation of generating and bulk transmission facilities under the terms of the System Agreement, which has been approved by the FERC. The System Agreement litigation proceedings are described in the Form 10-K.

The FERC decision concluded, among other things, that:

  • The System Agreement no longer roughly equalizes production costs among the domestic utility companies.
  • In order to reach rough production cost equalization, the FERC will impose a bandwidth remedy allowing for a maximum spread of 22 percent (expressed by the FERC as +/- 11%) between the total annual production costs of the highest cost and lowest cost domestic utility companies.
  • When calculating the production costs for this purpose, output from the Vidalia hydroelectric power plant will not reflect the actual Vidalia price for that year but will be priced at that year's average MSS-3 price, reducing the amount of Vidalia costs reflected in the comparison of the domestic utility companies' total production costs.
  • The remedy ordered by FERC calls for no refunds and would be effective based on the calendar year 2006 production costs with the first potential reallocation payments, if required, expected to be made in 2007.

The FERC's June 2005 order would reallocate production costs of the domestic utility companies whose relative total production costs expressed as a percentage of Entergy System average production costs are outside an upper or lower bandwidth. This would be accomplished by payments from domestic utility companies whose production costs are below Entergy System average production costs to domestic utility companies whose production costs are above Entergy System average production costs. An assessment of the potential effects of the FERC's June 2005 order requires assumptions regarding the future total production cost of each domestic utility company, which assumptions include the mix of solid fuel and gas-fired generation available to each company and the costs of natural gas and purchased power.  Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States are more dependent upon gas-fired generation than Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, or Entergy New Orleans. Of these, Entergy Arkansas is the l east dependent upon gas-fired generation.  Therefore, increases in natural gas prices likely will increase the amount by which Entergy Arkansas' total production costs are below the average production costs of the domestic utility companies.  Considerable uncertainty exists regarding future gas prices. Annual average Henry Hub gas prices have varied significantly over recent years, ranging from $1.72/mmBtu to $5.85/mmBtu for the 1995-2004 period, and averaging $3.43/mmBtu during the ten-year period 1995-2004 and $4.58/mmBtu during the five-year period 2000-2004.  Recent market conditions have resulted in gas prices that have averaged $5.85/mmBtu for the twelve months ended December 2004. During the 12 month period July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 forward gas contracts for each of the next four years based on daily NYMEX close averaged $6.68/mmBtu (2006), $6.25/mmBtu (2007), $5.88/mmBtu (2008) and $5.58/mmBtu (2009). If the FERC's June 2005 order becomes final and if these gas prices occur as assumed, the following potential annual production cost reallocations among the domestic utility companies could result during the 2007-2010 period:

 

Range of Annual Payments
or (Receipts)

 

Average Annual
Payment or (Receipt)

 

(In Millions)

       

Entergy Arkansas

$143 to $210 

 

$166 

Entergy Gulf States

($134) to ($87)

 

($113)

Entergy Louisiana

($71) to ($10)

 

($38)

Entergy Mississippi

($28) to $0 

 

($11)

Entergy New Orleans

($10) to $0 

 

($4)

If natural gas prices deviate by $1/mmBtu up or down, it is expected that Entergy Arkansas' annual payments will change in the same direction by approximately $60 to $70 million.

Various pending motions for rehearing and clarification of the FERC's June 2005 order were filed by parties to the proceeding, including the LPSC, the APSC, the MPSC, and the City Council, and by Entergy Services, Inc., on behalf of the domestic utility companies. Among other things, the LPSC's motion urged the FERC to "clarify" that the FERC's order requires the payments and receipts, to the extent any are required, to be made in 2006 based on production costs incurred in 2004 and 2005. Entergy does not believe that this request for "clarification" is consistent with the FERC order and submitted a response urging the FERC to reject this interpretation and instead find that the annual remedy order by the FERC would be evaluated based on calendar year 2006 production costs, with the first potential payments/receipts, if any were required, made in 2007.

Management believes that any changes in the allocation of production costs resulting from the FERC's June 2005 order and related retail proceedings should result in similar rate changes for retail customers. The timing of recovery of these costs in rates could be the subject of additional proceedings before Entergy's retail regulators. Although the outcome and timing of the FERC and other proceedings cannot be predicted at this time, Entergy Mississippi does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

Transmission

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the petition for declaratory order that Entergy filed with the FERC in January 2005 regarding Entergy's Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT) proposal. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued a declaratory order concluding that: (1) because the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) was the only entity identified as potentially being selected as the ICT and because the SPP is already a "public utility" there was no need to rule on the question of whether the functions of the ICT, alone, would serve to make the ICT a "public utility;" (2) Entergy will continue to be the "transmission provider" for transmission service across its system and that "the presence of SPP as the ICT will not change the existing balance of jurisdiction between [the FERC] and Entergy's retail regulators;" and (3) the FERC "is prepared to grant Entergy's proposed transmission pricing proposal on a two-year experimental basis, subject to certain enhancement and mon itoring and reporting conditions." The enhancements referred to by the FERC involve more fully specifying the responsibilities and duties of the ICT, including defining the ICT's role in the preparation of various transmission expansion plans and the performance of studies related to the granting of transmission or interconnection service. Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal.

On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy.

On April 21, 2005 Entergy filed a request for clarification or rehearing of the FERC's March 22 declaratory order requesting that the FERC clarify the respective role of Entergy and the ICT in developing the inputs or criteria used to create the base plan and in preparing certain studies regarding system expansion. The request for clarification further requests that the FERC clarify that the initial two-year period will commence with the actual start date of ICT operations. In the event that the FERC denies Entergy's request for clarification, then Entergy will seek rehearing on these issues. However, in its request, Entergy requested that FERC not rule on these issues at this time but, instead, that the FERC wait to evaluate these issues until such time as Entergy has filed the more detailed tariff sheets and protocols in its subsequent filing to implement the ICT. Separately, Entergy submitted a letter advising the FERC that it intended to submit on or about May 27, 2005 the filing t o implement the ICT proposal. A joint request for rehearing of the ICT declaratory order was also filed by the City Council, the LPSC, and the MPSC in which the retail regulators expressed their concerns that the findings reached in the declaratory order may result in an expansion of authority of the ICT "that is unnecessary to achieve the [FERC's] goals and is very likely to result in significant increases in the start-up and operational costs of the ICT." The retail regulators request that the FERC not act on their request for rehearing until Entergy has submitted its filing to implement the ICT. The intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

On May 12, 2005 the FERC issued an order clarifying certain aspects of its March 22 order. In the May 12 order, the FERC indicated that (1) Entergy is to work with the ICT and Entergy's stakeholders to develop procedures by which the ICT will calculate AFCs; (2) Entergy must specifically define the transmission rights that a customer that pays for supplemental upgrades will receive for such payments; (3) the FERC will review the ICT's contract to ensure that the ICT can perform its functions in an independent manner even if SPP is chosen as the ICT; and (4) the initial two-year period will start once the ICT becomes operational.

On May 27, 2005, the domestic utility companies filed the enhanced ICT proposal with the FERC. Entergy believes that the filing is consistent with the FERC guidance received in both the FERC's March 22 and May 12 orders on the ICT. Among other things, the enhanced ICT filing states that the ICT will (1) grant or deny transmission service on the domestic utility companies' transmission system; (2) administer the domestic utility companies' OASIS node for purposes of processing and evaluating transmission service requests and ensuring compliance with the domestic utility companies' obligation to post transmission-related information; (3) develop a base plan for the domestic utility companies' transmission system that will result in the ICT making the determination on whether something should be rolled into the domestic utility companies' transmission rates or directly assigned to the customer requesting or causing an upgrade to be constructed; (4) serve as the reliability coordinator for t he Entergy transmission system; and (5) oversee the operation of the weekly procurement process. The enhanced ICT proposal clarifies the rights that customers receive when they fund a supplemental upgrade and also contains a detailed methodology describing the process by which the ICT will evaluate interconnection-related investments already made on the Entergy System for purposes of determining the future allocation of the uncredited portion of these investments.

On June 3, 2005 a group of generators filed with the FERC a request that the FERC schedule a technical conference on the enhanced ICT proposal in order for Entergy to provide additional information on the enhanced ICT proposal. In response, a stakeholder meeting was held in New Orleans on June 30, 2005. Interventions and comments on the filing are due by August 5, 2005.

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is currently scheduled for August 2005, however certain intervenors have recently requested that the hearing be delayed until mid-September 2005.

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of proceedings at the FERC involving Entergy's Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued an order contemporaneously with the ICT declaratory order discussed above that holds the AFC hearing in abeyance pending action on Entergy's upcoming ICT filing. The order holding the hearing in abeyance further indicated that it would cancel the hearing when the ICT begins to perform its functions. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed Emergency Motions for Interim Relief and Expedited Commission Action requesting that, during the interim period before the implementation of the ICT, the FERC (1) institute an audit process to examine and modify Entergy's current AFC process; and (2) require SPP to become involved in the AFC stakeholder process and order certain modifications to Entergy's stakeholder process. The audit process being proposed by the intervenors would not involve an independent auditor, but instead wou ld be an investigation performed by a representative from the intervenors, Entergy, and possibly SPP.  On April 25, 2005, Entergy filed its response to the emergency motion urging the FERC to reject the intervenors' request for the "audit" because the type of investigation proposed by the intervenors would be neither independent nor fair and would only distract from the implementation of the ICT.  Instead, Entergy has proposed that the ICT conduct an independent review of the AFC process and procedures as part of its transition to assuming the identified ICT responsibilities, including the calculation of the AFCs.  Entergy further indicated that it would welcome SPP's participation in the current stakeholder process. On April 21, 2005, the intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing arguing that the FERC must allow the AFC hearing to proceed in parallel with the establishment of the ICT. See "Transmission" above for further discussion of AFC.

Federal Legislation

In late July 2005 the U.S. Congress passed broad new energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The legislation contains electricity provisions that, among other things:

  • Repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA), effective six months after enactment of the Energy Policy Act. As a registered holding company system, Entergy is subject to PUHCA. Some of the more significant effects of PUHCA are that it limits the operations of a registered holding company system to a single, integrated public utility system; regulates transactions among affiliates within a holding company system; governs the issuance, acquisition, and disposition of securities and assets by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries; limits the entry by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries into businesses other than electric or gas utility businesses; and requires SEC approval for certain utility mergers and acquisitions. Certain consumer protection authorities were transferred to the FERC, including new authority over utility mergers and acquisitions, and to the state or local regulatory commissions.
  • Codifies the concept of participant funding, a form of cost allocation for transmission interconnections and upgrades, and allows FERC to apply participant funding in all regions of the country. Participant funding helps ensure that a utility's native load customers only bear the costs that are necessary to provide reliable transmission service to them and not bear costs required by generators who seek to deliver power to other regions.
  • Provides financing benefits, including loan guarantees and production tax credits, for new nuclear plant construction, and reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act, the law that provides an umbrella of insurance protection for the payment of public liability claims in the event of a major nuclear power plant incident.
  • Revises current tax law treatment of nuclear decommissioning trust funds by allowing regulated and nonregulated taxpayers to make deductible contributions to fund the entire amount of estimated future decommissioning costs.
  • Provides a more rapid tax depreciation schedule for transmission assets t o encourage investment.
  • Creates mandatory electricity reliability guidelines with enforceable penalties to help ensure that the nation's power transmission grid is kept in good repair and that disruptions in the electricity system are minimized.  Entergy already voluntarily complies with National Electricity Reliability Council standards, which are similar.
  • Establishes conditions for the elimination of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act's (PURPA) mandatory purchase obligation from qualifying facilities.

The President is expected to sign the Energy Policy Act in August 2005. The Energy Power Act requires several rulemakings by the FERC and other government agencies in order to implement its provisions. Therefore, it will be some time before a full assessment of its effect on Entergy and the energy industry can be completed.

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 Mississippi's accounting for pension and other retirement costs.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter 2005, FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, "Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143" (FIN 47). FIN 47 requires companies to recognize at fair value a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred, which is generally upon an asset's acquisition, construction, development, or through its normal operation. A conditional asset retirement obligation is generally a legal obligation to incur costs to remove an asset or part of an asset, such as an obligation to comply with environmental regulations and requirements. The obligation is conditional because there is currently no legal requirement to retire or remove the facility that the affected asset is a part of. FIN 47 requires that uncertainty about the timing or method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information becomes available. FIN 47 wi ll be effective for Entergy no later than December 31, 2005. Entergy does not believe that the adoption of FIN 47 will be material to its financial position or results of operations because it estimates that any conditional asset retirement obligations required to be recognized under FIN 47 would be offset by a regulatory asset because of the expected recovery of these future costs in rates.

ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    2005   2004   2005   2004
    (In Thousands)   (In Thousands)
                 
OPERATING REVENUES                
Domestic electric   $288,244    $289,573    $539,490    $526,402 
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Operation and Maintenance:                
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and                
   gas purchased for resale   29,924    73,171    73,291    132,345 
  Purchased power   144,226    100,591    260,284    193,293 
  Other operation and maintenance   47,750    44,835    88,731    81,883 
Taxes other than income taxes   14,900    13,764    28,666    26,562 
Depreciation and amortization   17,982    15,716    35,919    30,625 
Other regulatory credits - net   (2,331)   (661)   (1,966)   (3,188)
TOTAL   252,451    247,416    484,925    461,520 
                 
OPERATING INCOME   35,793    42,157    54,565    64,882 
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   1,060    867    2,061    1,634 
Interest and dividend income   690    830    1,328    1,546 
Miscellaneous - net   (322)   162    (691)   (478)
TOTAL   1,428    1,859    2,698    2,702 
                 
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES      
Interest on long-term debt   9,839    11,047    19,673    21,976 
Other interest - net   828    540    1,445    940 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (681)   (596)   (1,344)   (1,203)
TOTAL   9,986    10,991    19,774    21,713 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   27,235    33,025    37,489    45,871 
                 
Income taxes   9,516    12,217    12,548    16,425 
                 
NET INCOME   17,719    20,808    24,941    29,446 
                 
Preferred dividend requirements and other   858    842    1,700    1,685 
                 
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO                
COMMON STOCK   $16,861    $19,966    $23,241    $27,761 
                 
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.                
                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $24,941    $29,446 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
  Other regulatory credits - net   (1,966)   (3,188)
  Depreciation and amortization   35,919    30,625 
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   (499)   61,417 
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   (30,332)   (8,986)
    Fuel inventory   (776)   1,072 
    Accounts payable   (8,553)   486 
    Taxes accrued   (8,091)   (60,754)
    Interest accrued   525    (1,528)
    Deferred fuel costs   8,056    15,042 
    Other working capital accounts   (9)   3,427 
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   319    (771)
  Changes in other regulatory assets   (4,326)   (3,448)
  Other   1,287    (11,276)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   16,495    51,564 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (69,477)   (78,320)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   2,061    1,634 
Changes in other temporary investments - net   -    7,506 
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (67,416)   (69,180)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   -    178,625 
Proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock   29,340    - - 
Retirement of long-term debt   -    (218,136)
Changes in short-term borrowings   -    25,000 
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (11,400)   (12,100)
  Preferred stock   (1,685)   (1,685)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   16,255    (28,296)
         
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (34,666)   (45,912)
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   80,396    63,838 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $45,730    $17,926 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $19,549    $21,843 
  Income taxes   $4,446    $2,950 
         
         

 

ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
     
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $1,482    $4,716 
  Temporary cash investment - at cost,        
   which approximates market   44,248    75,680 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   45,730    80,396 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   59,790    68,821 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (761)   (1,126)
  Associated companies   57,323    22,616 
  Other   8,121    12,133 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   42,651    34,348 
     Total accounts receivable   167,124    136,792 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   27,438    27,924 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   4,913    4,137 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   18,444    18,414 
Prepayments and other   11,246    15,413 
TOTAL   274,895    283,076 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   5,531    5,531 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   6,259    6,465 
TOTAL   11,790    11,996 
         
UTILITY PLANT        
Electric   2,431,311    2,385,465 
Property under capital lease   73    95 
Construction work in progress   97,967    89,921 
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   2,529,351    2,475,481 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   893,450    870,188 
UTILITY PLANT - NET   1,635,901    1,605,293 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   19,009    17,628 
  Other regulatory assets   88,529    82,674 
Long-term receivable   3,270    4,510 
Other   31,813    31,009 
TOTAL   142,621    135,821 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $2,065,207    $2,036,186 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
 
 
 
ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
     
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accounts payable:        
  Associated companies   $ 42,469    $ 65,806 
  Other   40,327    25,543 
Customer deposits   40,232    37,333 
Taxes accrued   28,261    40,106 
Interest accrued   13,012    12,487 
Deferred fuel costs   30,849    22,793 
Obligations under capital leases   46    43 
Other   2,001    8,341 
TOTAL   197,197    212,452 
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   443,158    438,321 
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   13,023    13,687 
Obligations under capital leases   27    52 
Accumulated provisions   13,037    12,718 
Long-term debt   695,109    695,073 
Other   74,663    76,071 
TOTAL   1,239,017    1,235,922 
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Preferred stock without sinking fund   80,381    50,381 
Common stock, no par value, authorized 12,000,000        
 shares in 2005 and 15,000,000 shares in 2004;        
 issued and outstanding 8,666,357 shares in 2005 and 2004   199,326    199,326 
Capital stock expense and other   (719)   (59)
Retained earnings   350,005    338,164 
TOTAL   628,993    587,812 
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $2,065,207    $2,036,186 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

 

ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
                 
    Three Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $ 99   $ 102   ($ 3)   (3)
  Commercial   91   92   (1)   (1)
  Industrial   46   49   (3)   (6)
  Governmental   9   9   - -    - - 
    Total retail   245   252   (7)   (3)
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   12   8   4    50 
    Non-associated companies   8   8   - -    - - 
  Other   23   22   1    5 
     Total   $ 288   $ 290   ($ 2)   (1)
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   1,060   1,074   (14)   (1)
  Commercial   1,057   1,060   (3)   - - 
  Industrial   708   746   (38)   (5)
  Governmental   94   91   3    3 
     Total retail   2,919   2,971   (52)   (2)
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   104   65   39    60 
    Non-associated companies   109   101   8    8 
     Total   3,132   3,137   (5)   - - 
                 
                 
    Six Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $ 195   $ 196   ($ 1)   (1)
  Commercial   176   173   3    2 
  Industrial   90   91   (1)   (1)
  Governmental   18   17   1    6 
    Total retail   479   477   2    - - 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   18   11   7    64 
    Non-associated companies   17   13   4    31 
  Other   25   25   - -    - - 
     Total   $ 539   $ 526   $ 13    2 
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   2,256   2,299   (43)   (2)
  Commercial   2,078   2,064   14    1 
  Industrial   1,400   1,422   (22)   (2)
  Governmental   186   182   4    2 
    Total retail   5,920   5,967   (47)   (1)
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   121   78   43    55 
    Non-associated companies   177   167   10    6 
     Total   6,218   6,212   6    - - 
                 
                 

 

 

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Results of Operations

Net Income

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net income decreased $3.9 million primarily due to higher other operation and maintenance expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expenses.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net income decreased $5.3 million primarily due to higher other operation and maintenance expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expenses.

Net Revenue

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy New Orleans' measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory charges. Net revenue was relatively unchanged comparing the second quarter of 2005 to the second quarter of 2004.

   

Amount

   

(In Millions)

     

2004 net revenue

 

$67.2

Miscellaneous items

 

0.6

2005 net revenue

 

$67.8

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Net revenue, which is Entergy New Orleans' measure of gross margin, consists of operating revenues net of: 1) fuel, fuel-related, and purchased power expenses and 2) other regulatory charges. Following is an analysis of the changes in net revenue comparing the six months ended June 30, 2005 to the six months ended June 30, 2004.

   

Amount

   

(In Millions)

     

2004 net revenue

 

$120.8 

Volume/weather

 

(2.3)

Price applied to unbilled electric sales

 

(2.3)

Rate refund provisions

 

4.0 

Other

 

(0.2)

2005 net revenue

 

$120.0 

The volume/weather variance is due to a decrease in electricity usage in the service territory primarily during the unbilled sales period. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The price applied to unbilled electric sales variance is due to a decrease in the fuel cost component of the price applied to unbilled sales. See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K and Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

The rate refund provisions variance is due to provisions recorded in the first quarter of 2004 primarily as a result of a resolution adopted by the City Council in February 2004.

Gross operating revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to an increase of $24.3 million in gross wholesale revenue as a result of increased sales to affiliates. The increase is due to increased generation resulting in more energy available for resale.

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to an increase in electricity generated in addition to an increase in the price of natural gas.

Other Income Statement Variances

Second Quarter 2005 Compared to Second Quarter 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to the following:

  • an increase of $1.3 million in payroll and benefits costs; and
  • an increase of $1.2 million in regulatory commission expense as a result of higher consultant costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to an increase in plant in service.

Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2004

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to the following:

  • an increase of $1.9 million in payroll and benefits costs; and
  • an increase of $1.4 million in regulatory commission expense as a result of higher consultant costs.

Depreciation and amortization expense increased primarily due to an increase in plant in service.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 41.9% and 38.9%, respectively. The effective income tax rates for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were 40.4% and 38.6%, respectively. The differences in the effective income tax rates for the periods presented versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% are primarily due to state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$7,954 

 

$4,669 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

(4,481)

 

20,014 

 

Investing activities

 

(23,119)

 

(22,258)

 

Financing activities

 

27,704 

 

(1,524)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

104 

 

(3,768)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$8,058 

 

$901 

Operating Activities

Operating activities used $4.5 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to providing $20.0 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to a pension fund contribution of $12.0 million made in April 2005, money pool activity, and an income tax refund of $5.0 million received in the first quarter of 2004. Money pool activity used $6.3 million of Entergy New Orleans' operating cash flow for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to providing $3.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004.

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

June 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

June 30,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$7,758

 

$1,413

 

($1,805)

 

$1,783

See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Financing Activities

Financing activities provided $27.7 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to using $1.5 million of cash for the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily because in June 2005, Entergy New Orleans issued $30 million of 4.98% Series First Mortgage Bonds due July 2010. The proceeds were used to retire, at maturity, $30 million of 8.125% Series First Mortgage Bonds due July 2005.

Uses and Sources of Capital

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy New Orleans' uses and sources of capital.

In July 2005, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans renewed their 364-day credit facilities with the same lender through May 2006. Entergy New Orleans increased the amount of its credit facility to $15 million, the same amount as Entergy Louisiana's facility. Either company can borrow up to the full amount on its respective facility, but at no time can the combined amount of outstanding borrowings on the two facilities exceed $15 million. There were no borrowings outstanding on either facility as of June 30, 2005. In July 2005, Entergy New Orleans granted the lender a security interest in its customer accounts receivables to secure its borrowings under this facility. Under the terms of the security agreement, Entergy New Orleans has the option to withdraw the security interest at any time.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of state and local rate regulation, federal regulation and proceedings, market and credit risks, environmental risks, and litigation risks. Following are updates to the information presented in the Form 10-K.

State and Local Rate Regulation

In April 2005, Entergy New Orleans made its annual scheduled formula rate plan filings with the City Council.  The filings show that a decrease of $0.2 million in electric revenues is warranted and an increase of $3.9 million in gas revenues is warranted. The prescribed period for review by the City Council's Advisors and other parties has now commenced, and rate adjustments, if any, could be implemented as soon as September 2005.

In May 2005, Entergy New Orleans filed with the City Council a request for continuation of the formula rate plan and generation performance-based rate plan for an additional three years. The filing requests a target equity component of the capital structure of 45%, an increase from the current target of 42%.

Federal Regulation

System Agreement Litigation

On June 1, 2005, the FERC issued a decision in the System Agreement litigation. The domestic utility companies historically have engaged in the coordinated planning, construction, and operation of generating and bulk transmission facilities under the terms of the System Agreement, which has been approved by the FERC. The System Agreement litigation proceedings are described in the Form 10-K.

The FERC decision concluded, among other things, that:

  • The System Agreement no longer roughly equalizes production costs among the domestic utility companies.
  • In order to reach rough production cost equalization, the FERC will impose a bandwidth remedy allowing for a maximum spread of 22 percent (expressed by the FERC as +/- 11%) between the total annual production costs of the highest cost and lowest cost domestic utility companies.
  • When calculating the production costs for this purpose, output from the Vidalia hydroelectric power plant will not reflect the actual Vidalia price for that year but will be priced at that year's average MSS-3 price, reducing the amount of Vidalia costs reflected in the comparison of the domestic utility companies' total production costs.
  • The remedy ordered by FERC calls for no refunds and would be effective based on the calendar year 2006 production costs with the first potential reallocation payments, if required, expected to be made in 2007.

The FERC's June 2005 order would reallocate production costs of the domestic utility companies whose relative total production costs expressed as a percentage of Entergy System average production costs are outside an upper or lower bandwidth. This would be accomplished by payments from domestic utility companies whose production costs are below Entergy System average production costs to domestic utility companies whose production costs are above Entergy System average production costs. An assessment of the potential effects of the FERC's June 2005 order requires assumptions regarding the future total production cost of each domestic utility company, which assumptions include the mix of solid fuel and gas-fired generation available to each company and the costs of natural gas and purchased power.  Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States are more dependent upon gas-fired generation than Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, or Entergy New Orleans. Of these, Entergy Arkansas is the l east dependent upon gas-fired generation.  Therefore, increases in natural gas prices likely will increase the amount by which Entergy Arkansas' total production costs are below the average production costs of the domestic utility companies.  Considerable uncertainty exists regarding future gas prices. Annual average Henry Hub gas prices have varied significantly over recent years, ranging from $1.72/mmBtu to $5.85/mmBtu for the 1995-2004 period, and averaging $3.43/mmBtu during the ten-year period 1995-2004 and $4.58/mmBtu during the five-year period 2000-2004.  Recent market conditions have resulted in gas prices that have averaged $5.85/mmBtu for the twelve months ended December 2004. During the 12 month period July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005 forward gas contracts for each of the next four years based on daily NYMEX close averaged $6.68/mmBtu (2006), $6.25/mmBtu (2007), $5.88/mmBtu (2008) and $5.58/mmBtu (2009). If the FERC's June 2005 order becomes final and if these gas prices occur as assumed, the following potential annual production cost reallocations among the domestic utility companies could result during the 2007-2010 period:

 

Range of Annual Payments
or (Receipts)

 

Average Annual
Payment or (Receipt)

 

(In Millions)

       

Entergy Arkansas

$143 to $210 

 

$166 

Entergy Gulf States

($134) to ($87)

 

($113)

Entergy Louisiana

($71) to ($10)

 

($38)

Entergy Mississippi

($28) to $0 

 

($11)

Entergy New Orleans

($10) to $0 

 

($4)

If natural gas prices deviate by $1/mmBtu up or down, it is expected that Entergy Arkansas' annual payments will change in the same direction by approximately $60 to $70 million.

Various pending motions for rehearing and clarification of the FERC's June 2005 order were filed by parties to the proceeding, including the LPSC, the APSC, the MPSC, and the City Council, and by Entergy Services, Inc., on behalf of the domestic utility companies. Among other things, the LPSC's motion urged the FERC to "clarify" that the FERC's order requires the payments and receipts, to the extent any are required, to be made in 2006 based on production costs incurred in 2004 and 2005. Entergy does not believe that this request for "clarification" is consistent with the FERC order and submitted a response urging the FERC to reject this interpretation and instead find that the annual remedy order by the FERC would be evaluated based on calendar year 2006 production costs, with the first potential payments/receipts, if any were required, made in 2007.

Management believes that any changes in the allocation of production costs resulting from the FERC's June 2005 order and related retail proceedings should result in similar rate changes for retail customers. The timing of recovery of these costs in rates could be the subject of additional proceedings before Entergy's retail regulators. Although the outcome and timing of the FERC and other proceedings cannot be predicted at this time, Entergy New Orleans does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these proceedings will have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

See the Form 10-K for discussion of the City Council resolution directing Entergy New Orleans and Entergy Louisiana to notify the City Council and obtain prior approval for any action that would materially modify, amend, or terminate the System Agreement for one or more of the domestic utility companies, and the state court decision dismissing the City Council's claims for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. The City Council has appealed that decision to the Louisiana Court of Appeal for the Fourth Circuit.

Transmission

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the petition for declaratory order that Entergy filed with the FERC in January 2005 regarding Entergy's Independent Coordinator of Transmission (ICT) proposal. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued a declaratory order concluding that: (1) because the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) was the only entity identified as potentially being selected as the ICT and because the SPP is already a "public utility" there was no need to rule on the question of whether the functions of the ICT, alone, would serve to make the ICT a "public utility;" (2) Entergy will continue to be the "transmission provider" for transmission service across its system and that "the presence of SPP as the ICT will not change the existing balance of jurisdiction between [the FERC] and Entergy's retail regulators;" and (3) the FERC "is prepared to grant Entergy's proposed transmission pricing proposal on a two-year experimental basis, subject to certain enhancement and monitoring and reportin g conditions." The enhancements referred to by the FERC involve more fully specifying the responsibilities and duties of the ICT, including defining the ICT's role in the preparation of various transmission expansion plans and the performance of studies related to the granting of transmission or interconnection service. Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal.

On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy.

On April 21, 2005 Entergy filed a request for clarification or rehearing of the FERC's March 22 declaratory order requesting that the FERC clarify the respective role of Entergy and the ICT in developing the inputs or criteria used to create the base plan and in preparing certain studies regarding system expansion. The request for clarification further requests that the FERC clarify that the initial two-year period will commence with the actual start date of ICT operations. In the event that the FERC denies Entergy's request for clarification, then Entergy will seek rehearing on these issues. However, in its request, Entergy requested that FERC not rule on these issues at this time but, instead, that the FERC wait to evaluate these issues until such time as Entergy has filed the more detailed tariff sheets and protocols in its subsequent filing to implement the ICT. Separately, Entergy submitted a letter advising the FERC that it intended to submit on or about May 27, 2005 the filing t o implement the ICT proposal. A joint request for rehearing of the ICT declaratory order was also filed by the City Council, the LPSC, and the MPSC in which the retail regulators expressed their concerns that the findings reached in the declaratory order may result in an expansion of authority of the ICT "that is unnecessary to achieve the [FERC's] goals and is very likely to result in significant increases in the start-up and operational costs of the ICT." The retail regulators request that the FERC not act on their request for rehearing until Entergy has submitted its filing to implement the ICT. The intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

On May 12, 2005 the FERC issued an order clarifying certain aspects of its March 22 order. In the May 12 order, the FERC indicated that (1) Entergy is to work with the ICT and Entergy's stakeholders to develop procedures by which the ICT will calculate AFCs; (2) Entergy must specifically define the transmission rights that a customer that pays for supplemental upgrades will receive for such payments; (3) the FERC will review the ICT's contract to ensure that the ICT can perform its functions in an independent manner even if SPP is chosen as the ICT; and (4) the initial two-year period will start once the ICT becomes operational.

On May 27, 2005, the domestic utility companies filed the enhanced ICT proposal with the FERC. Entergy believes that the filing is consistent with the FERC guidance received in both the FERC's March 22 and May 12 orders on the ICT. Among other things, the enhanced ICT filing states that the ICT will (1) grant or deny transmission service on the domestic utility companies' transmission system; (2) administer the domestic utility companies' OASIS node for purposes of processing and evaluating transmission service requests and ensuring compliance with the domestic utility companies' obligation to post transmission-related information; (3) develop a base plan for the domestic utility companies' transmission system that will result in the ICT making the determination on whether something should be rolled into the domestic utility companies' transmission rates or directly assigned to the customer requesting or causing an upgrade to be constructed; (4) serve as the reliability coordinator for t he Entergy transmission system; and (5) oversee the operation of the weekly procurement process. The enhanced ICT proposal clarifies the rights that customers receive when they fund a supplemental upgrade and also contains a detailed methodology describing the process by which the ICT will evaluate interconnection-related investments already made on the Entergy System for purposes of determining the future allocation of the uncredited portion of these investments.

On June 3, 2005 a group of generators filed with the FERC a request that the FERC schedule a technical conference on the enhanced ICT proposal in order for Entergy to provide additional information on the enhanced ICT proposal. In response, a stakeholder meeting was held in New Orleans on June 30, 2005. Interventions and comments on the filing are due by August 5, 2005.

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is currently scheduled for August 2005, however certain intervenors have recently requested that the hearing be delayed until mid-September 2005.

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of proceedings at the FERC involving Entergy's Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology. On March 22, 2005, the FERC issued an order contemporaneously with the ICT declaratory order discussed above that holds the AFC hearing in abeyance pending action on Entergy's upcoming ICT filing. The order holding the hearing in abeyance further indicated that it would cancel the hearing when the ICT begins to perform its functions. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed Emergency Motions for Interim Relief and Expedited Commission Action requesting that, during the interim period before the implementation of the ICT, the FERC (1) institute an audit process to examine and modify Entergy's current AFC process; and (2) require SPP to become involved in the AFC stakeholder process and order certain modifications to Entergy's stakeholder process. The audit process being proposed by the intervenors would not involve an independent auditor, but instead wou ld be an investigation performed by a representative from the intervenors, Entergy, and possibly SPP.  On April 25, 2005, Entergy filed its response to the emergency motion urging the FERC to reject the intervenors' request for the "audit" because the type of investigation proposed by the intervenors would be neither independent nor fair and would only distract from the implementation of the ICT.  Instead, Entergy has proposed that the ICT conduct an independent review of the AFC process and procedures as part of its transition to assuming the identified ICT responsibilities, including the calculation of the AFCs.  Entergy further indicated that it would welcome SPP's participation in the current stakeholder process. On April 21, 2005, the intervenors filed a separate request for rehearing arguing that the FERC must allow the AFC hearing to proceed in parallel with the establishment of the ICT. See "Transmission" above for further discussion of AFC.

Federal Legislation

In late July 2005 the U.S. Congress passed broad new energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The legislation contains electricity provisions that, among other things:

  • Repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA), effective six months after enactment of the Energy Policy Act. As a registered holding company system, Entergy is subject to PUHCA. Some of the more significant effects of PUHCA are that it limits the operations of a registered holding company system to a single, integrated public utility system; regulates transactions among affiliates within a holding company system; governs the issuance, acquisition, and disposition of securities and assets by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries; limits the entry by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries into businesses other than electric or gas utility businesses; and requires SEC approval for certain utility mergers and acquisitions. Certain consumer protection authorities were transferred to the FERC, including new authority over utility mergers and acquisitions, and to the state or local regulatory commissions.
  • Codifies the concept of participant funding, a form of cost allocation for transmission interconnections and upgrades, and allows FERC to apply participant funding in all regions of the country. Participant funding helps ensure that a utility's native load customers only bear the costs that are necessary to provide reliable transmission service to them and not bear costs required by generators who seek to deliver power to other regions.
  • Provides financing benefits, including loan guarantees and production tax credits, for new nuclear plant construction, and reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act, the law that provides an umbrella of insurance protection for the payment of public liability claims in the event of a major nuclear power plant incident.
  • Revises current tax law treatment of nuclear decommissioning trust funds by allowing regulated and nonregulated taxpayers to make deductible contributions to fund the entire amount of estimated future decommissioning costs.
  • Provides a more rapid tax depreciation schedule for transmission assets t o encourage investment.
  • Creates mandatory electricity reliability guidelines with enforceable penalties to help ensure that the nation's power transmission grid is kept in good repair and that disruptions in the electricity system are minimized.  Entergy already voluntarily complies with National Electricity Reliability Council standards, which are similar.
  • Establishes conditions for the elimination of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act's (PURPA) mandatory purchase obligation from qualifying facilities.

The President is expected to sign the Energy Policy Act in August 2005. The Energy Power Act requires several rulemakings by the FERC and other government agencies in order to implement its provisions. Therefore, it will be some time before a full assessment of its effect on Entergy and the energy industry can be completed.

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 New Orleans' accounting for unbilled revenue and pension and other retirement costs.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

In the first quarter 2005, FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 47, "Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 143" (FIN 47). FIN 47 requires companies to recognize at fair value a liability for a conditional asset retirement obligation when incurred, which is generally upon an asset's acquisition, construction, development, or through its normal operation. A conditional asset retirement obligation is generally a legal obligation to incur costs to remove an asset or part of an asset, such as an obligation to comply with environmental regulations and requirements. The obligation is conditional because there is currently no legal requirement to retire or remove the facility that the affected asset is a part of. FIN 47 requires that uncertainty about the timing or method of settlement of a conditional asset retirement obligation be factored into the measurement of the liability when sufficient information becomes available. FIN 47 wi ll be effective for Entergy no later than December 31, 2005. Entergy does not believe that the adoption of FIN 47 will be material to its financial position or results of operations because it estimates that any conditional asset retirement obligations required to be recognized under FIN 47 would be offset by a regulatory asset because of the expected recovery of these future costs in rates.

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
                 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    2005   2004   2005   2004
    (In Thousands)   (In Thousands)
                 
OPERATING REVENUES                
Domestic electric   $158,799    $159,221    $289,971    $271,797 
Natural gas   31,128    27,116    91,223    84,307 
TOTAL   189,927    186,337    381,194    356,104 
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Operation and Maintenance:                
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and                
   gas purchased for resale   54,843    53,078    135,939    109,589 
  Purchased power   66,001    65,398    122,783    124,317 
  Other operation and maintenance   30,143    27,235    50,990    48,551 
Taxes other than income taxes   10,693    10,069    21,373    20,064 
Depreciation and amortization   9,059    6,969    17,145    13,800 
Other regulatory charges - net   1,254    708    2,509    1,416 
TOTAL   171,993    163,457    350,739    317,737 
                 
OPERATING INCOME   17,934    22,880    30,455    38,367 
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   246    197    528    415 
Interest and dividend income   308    157    526    327 
Miscellaneous - net   (254)   1,106    (377)   812 
TOTAL   300    1,460    677    1,554 
                 
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES          
Interest on long-term debt   3,518    3,844    7,004    7,710 
Other interest - net   484    539    868    955 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (185)   (190)   (417)   (412)
TOTAL   3,817    4,193    7,455    8,253 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   14,417    20,147    23,677    31,668 
                 
Income taxes   6,043    7,828    9,567    12,235 
                 
NET INCOME   8,374    12,319    14,110    19,433 
                 
Preferred dividend requirements and other   241    241    482    482 
                 
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO                
COMMON STOCK   $8,133    $12,078    $13,628    $18,951 
                 
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.                
                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $14,110    $19,433 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
  Other regulatory charges - net   2,509    1,416 
  Depreciation and amortization   17,145    13,800 
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   3,407    19,510 
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   (2,215)   (2,936)
    Fuel inventory   4,181    5,580 
    Accounts payable   (13,223)   (16,799)
    Taxes accrued   6,045    (1,637)
    Interest accrued   (403)   (413)
    Deferred fuel costs   (20,837)   (9,802)
    Other working capital accounts   (5,334)   6,138 
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   (317)   (269)
  Changes in pension liability   (9,955)   850 
  Changes in other regulatory assets   3,936    698 
  Other   (3,530)   (15,555)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) operating activities   (4,481)   20,014 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (23,647)   (23,279)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   528    415 
Changes in other temporary investments - net   - -    606 
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (23,119)   (22,258)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   29,791    - - 
Retirement of long-term debt   (5)   - - 
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (1,600)   (800)
  Preferred stock   (482)   (724)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   27,704    (1,524)
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   104    (3,768)
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   7,954    4,669 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $8,058    $901 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid/(received) during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $7,882    $8,782 
  Income taxes   - -    ($5,010)
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $1,640    $2,998 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   6,418    4,956 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   8,058    7,954 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   40,156    47,356 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (3,444)   (3,492)
  Associated companies   9,355    12,223 
  Other   5,691    7,329 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   38,721    24,848 
     Total accounts receivable   90,479    88,264 
Deferred fuel costs   23,396    2,559 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   - -    4,181 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   9,468    9,150 
Prepayments and other   8,685    3,467 
TOTAL   140,086    115,575 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   3,259    3,259 
         
UTILITY PLANT        
Electric   717,279    699,072 
Natural gas   192,759    183,728 
Construction work in progress   25,315    33,273 
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   935,353    916,073 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   448,562    435,519 
UTILITY PLANT - NET   486,791    480,554 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  Other regulatory assets   37,101    40,354 
Long term receivables   1,812    2,492 
Other   21,629    20,540 
TOTAL   60,542    63,386 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $690,678    $662,774 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
 
 
 
ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt   $30,000   $30,000
Accounts payable:        
  Associated companies   30,807   30,563
  Other   30,682   44,149
Customer deposits   18,005   17,187
Taxes accrued   2,219   2,592
Accumulated deferred income taxes   7,546   1,906
Interest accrued   4,354   4,757
Energy Efficiency Program provision   6,776   6,611
Other   2,696   3,477
TOTAL   133,085   141,242
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   52,582   47,062
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   3,782   3,997
SFAS 109 regulatory liability - net   45,300   46,406
Accumulated provisions   9,006   9,323
Pension liability   26,890   36,845
Long-term debt   229,910   199,902
Other   3,853   3,755
TOTAL   371,323   347,290
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Preferred stock without sinking fund   19,780   19,780
Common stock, $4 par value, authorized 10,000,000        
  shares; issued and outstanding 8,435,900 shares in 2005        
  and 2004   33,744   33,744
Paid-in capital   36,294   36,294
Retained earnings   96,452   84,424
TOTAL   186,270   174,242
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $690,678   $662,774
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
                 
    Three Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
    (Dollars In Millions)        
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $38   $41   ($3)   (7)
  Commercial   40   42   (2)   (5)
  Industrial   9   8     13 
  Governmental   17   18   (1)   (6)
    Total retail   104   109   (5)   (5)
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   35   30     17 
  Other   20   20     - - 
     Total   $159   $159   $ -    - - 
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   447   450   (3)   (1)
  Commercial   552   545    
  Industrial   162   138   24    17 
  Governmental   243   245   (2)   (1)
     Total retail   1,404   1,378   26   
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   400   390   10   
    Non-associated companies   6   5     20 
     Total   1,810   1,773   37   
                 
                 
    Six Months Ended   Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
     (Dollars In Millions)        
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $67   $71   ($4)   (6)
  Commercial   74   76   (2)   (3)
  Industrial   16   14     14 
  Governmental   29   31   (2)   (6)
     Total retail   186   192   (6)   (3)
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   81   57   24    42 
    Non-associated companies   1   1     - - 
  Other   22   22     - - 
     Total   $290   $272   $18   
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   847   867   (20)   (2)
  Commercial   1,071   1,070     - - 
  Industrial   306   250   56    22 
  Governmental   468   470   (2)   - - 
     Total retail   2,692   2,657   35   
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   1,006   750   256    34 
    Non-associated companies   10   15   (5)   (33)
     Total   3,708   3,422   286    8  
                 
                 
                 

 

 

SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Results of Operations

System Energy's principal asset consists of a 90% ownership and leasehold interest in Grand Gulf. The capacity and energy from its 90% interest is sold under the Unit Power Sales Agreement to its only four customers, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans. System Energy's operating revenues are derived from the allocation of the capacity, energy, and related costs associated with its 90% interest in Grand Gulf pursuant to the Unit Power Sales Agreement. Payments under the Unit Power Sales Agreement are System Energy's only source of operating revenues. Net income remained relatively unchanged for the second quarter, increasing $0.4 million, and increased slightly by $2.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005, compared to the same respective periods in 2004. The increase for the six months ended is primarily due to higher interest income earned on temporary cash investments.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$216,355 

 

$52,536 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

18,468 

 

98,371 

 

Investing activities

 

(18,035)

 

(24,944)

 

Financing activities

 

(81,590)

 

(69,943)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(81,157)

 

3,484 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$135,198 

 

$56,020 

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operations decreased $79.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 primarily due to money pool activity. Money pool activity used $101.8 million of System Energy's operating cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and used $29.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2004. System Energy's receivables from the money pool were as follows:

June 30,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

June 30,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$163,416

 

$61,592

 

$48,082

 

$19,064

See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Investing Activities

The decrease of $6.9 million in net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 was primarily due to a decrease of $14.0 million in construction expenditures resulting from the reclassification of inventory items to capital in 2004. The decrease was partially offset by the maturity of $6.5 million of other temporary investments, which provided cash in 2004.

Financing Activities

The increase of $11.6 million in net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2005 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2004 was primarily due to an increase of $22.4 million in the January 2005 principal payment made on the Grand Gulf sale-leaseback compared to the January 2004 principal payment. The increase was partially offset by $13.2 million in bond refunding premiums and costs paid in 2004 related to System Energy refunding the bonds in May 2004 associated with its Grand Gulf Lease Obligation.

Uses and Sources of Capital

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of System Energy's uses and sources of capital.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

See "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of market risks, nuclear matters, litigation risks, and environmental risks.

Federal Legislation

In late July 2005 the U.S. Congress passed broad new energy legislation, the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The legislation contains electricity provisions that, among other things:

  • Repeal the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA), effective six months after enactment of the Energy Policy Act. As a registered holding company system, Entergy is subject to PUHCA. Some of the more significant effects of PUHCA are that it limits the operations of a registered holding company system to a single, integrated public utility system; regulates transactions among affiliates within a holding company system; governs the issuance, acquisition, and disposition of securities and assets by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries; limits the entry by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries into businesses other than electric or gas utility businesses; and requires SEC approval for certain utility mergers and acquisitions. Certain consumer protection authorities were transferred to the FERC, including new authority over utility mergers and acquisitions, and to the state or local regulatory commissions.
  • Codifies the concept of participant funding, a form of cost allocation for transmission interconnections and upgrades, and allows FERC to apply participant funding in all regions of the country. Participant funding helps ensure that a utility's native load customers only bear the costs that are necessary to provide reliable transmission service to them and not bear costs required by generators who seek to deliver power to other regions.
  • Provides financing benefits, including loan guarantees and production tax credits, for new nuclear plant construction, and reauthorizes the Price-Anderson Act, the law that provides an umbrella of insurance protection for the payment of public liability claims in the event of a major nuclear power plant incident.
  • Revises current tax law treatment of nuclear decommissioning trust funds by allowing regulated and nonregulated taxpayers to make deductible contributions to fund the entire amount of estimated future decommissioning costs.
  • Provides a more rapid tax depreciation schedule for transmission assets t o encourage investment.
  • Creates mandatory electricity reliability guidelines with enforceable penalties to help ensure that the nation's power transmission grid is kept in good repair and that disruptions in the electricity system are minimized.  Entergy already voluntarily complies with National Electricity Reliability Council standards, which are similar.
  • Establishes conditions for the elimination of the Public Utility Regulatory Policy Act's (PURPA) mandatory purchase obligation from qualifying facilities.

The President is expected to sign the Energy Policy Act in August 2005. The Energy Power Act requires several rulemakings by the FERC and other government agencies in order to implement its provisions. Therefore, it will be some time before a full assessment of its effect on Entergy and the energy industry can be completed.

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 System Energy's accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs and pension and other retirement benefits.

SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
  Three Months Ended   Six Months Ended
    2005   2004   2005   2004
    (In Thousands)   (In Thousands)
                 
OPERATING REVENUES                
Domestic electric   $126,364    $132,720    $251,154    $259,888 
                 
OPERATING EXPENSES                
Operation and Maintenance:                
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and                
   gas purchased for resale   10,139    10,278    19,858    17,524 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   3,026    2,891    6,019    6,518 
  Other operation and maintenance   27,346    23,127    50,482    44,638 
Decommissioning   6,240    5,805    12,368    11,505 
Taxes other than income taxes   6,322    6,211    12,371    12,156 
Depreciation and amortization   24,158    25,829    50,702    52,370 
Other regulatory credits - net   (4,126)   (1,006)   (8,511)   (2,175)
TOTAL   73,105    73,135    143,289    142,536 
                 
OPERATING INCOME   53,259    59,585    107,865    117,352 
                 
OTHER INCOME                
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   321    453    627    867 
Interest and dividend income   3,672    1,569    6,517    2,925 
Miscellaneous - net   (108)   (151)   (221)   (372)
TOTAL   3,885    1,871    6,923    3,420 
                 
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES          
Interest on long-term debt   12,812    15,949    25,668    31,189 
Other interest - net     146      356 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (102)   (146)   (199)   (281)
TOTAL   12,716    15,949    25,477    31,264 
                 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   44,428    45,507    89,311    89,508 
                 
Income taxes   18,503    19,975    37,154    39,309 
                 
NET INCOME   $25,925    $25,532    $52,157    $50,199 
                 
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.                
                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $52,157    $50,199 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
  Other regulatory credits - net   (8,511)   (2,175)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   63,070    63,875 
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   (12,140)   (166,003)
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   (95,645)   (18,986)
    Accounts payable   (4,750)   (6,032)
    Taxes accrued   28,065    194,383 
    Interest accrued   (27,831)   (17,109)
    Other working capital accounts   153    (3,605)
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   50    (1,886)
  Changes in other regulatory assets   (9,080)   11,319 
  Other   32,930    (5,609)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   18,468    98,371 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (7,982)   (22,011)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   627    867 
Nuclear fuel purchases   - -    (45,460)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   - -    45,640 
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized        
 change in trust assets   (10,680)   (10,462)
Changes in other temporary investments - net   - -    6,482 
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (18,035)   (24,944)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Retirement of long-term debt   (28,790)   (6,348)
Other financing activities   - -    (13,195)
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (52,800)   (50,400)
Net cash flow used in financing activities   (81,590)   (69,943)
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (81,157)   3,484 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   216,355    52,536 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $135,198    $56,020 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $50,605    $46,318 
  Income taxes   $14,522    - 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
             
    2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
             
CURRENT ASSETS            
Cash and cash equivalents:            
  Cash       $10   $399
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,            
   which approximates market       135,188   215,956
     Total cash and cash equivalents       135,198   216,355
Accounts receivable:            
  Associated companies       208,818   111,588
  Other       2,148   3,733
     Total accounts receivable       210,966   115,321
Materials and supplies - at average cost       55,591   53,427
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs       3,982   9,510
Prepayments and other       4,378   1,007
TOTAL       410,115   395,620
             
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Decommissioning trust funds       220,696   205,083
             
UTILITY PLANT        
Electric       3,238,587   3,232,314
Property under capital lease       469,993   469,993
Construction work in progress       29,345   28,743
Nuclear fuel under capital lease       51,265   65,572
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT       3,789,190   3,796,622
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization       1,834,908   1,780,450
UTILITY PLANT - NET       1,954,282   2,016,172
             
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:            
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net       95,081   96,047
  Other regulatory assets       307,354   296,305
Other       19,223   19,578
TOTAL       421,658   411,930
             
TOTAL ASSETS       $3,006,751   $3,028,805
             
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.            
 
 
 
SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
June 30, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
             
    2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt       $22,989   $25,266
Accounts payable:            
  Associated companies       3,071   3,880
  Other       17,110   21,051
Taxes accrued       113,840   46,468
Accumulated deferred income taxes       1,330   3,477
Interest accrued       15,167   42,998
Obligations under capital leases       27,716   27,716
Other       1,781   1,621
TOTAL       203,004   172,477
             
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued       367,694   421,466
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits       73,874   75,612
Obligations under capital leases       23,548   37,855
Other regulatory liabilities       246,722   210,863
Decommissioning       348,261   335,893
Accumulated provisions       2,428   2,378
Long-term debt       823,123   849,593
Other       24,156   28,084
TOTAL       1,909,806   1,961,744
             
Commitments and Contingencies            
             
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY        
Common stock, no par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares;            
  issued and outstanding 789,350 shares in 2005 and 2004       789,350   789,350
Retained earnings       104,591   105,234
TOTAL       893,941   894,584
             
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY       $3,006,751   $3,028,805
             
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.            
             
             
             
             
             
             
             

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, ENTERGY GULF STATES, ENTERGY LOUISIANA, ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, AND SYSTEM ENERGY

NOTES TO RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

NOTE 1. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Nuclear Insurance (Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy)

See Note 8 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for information on nuclear liability and property and replacement power insurance associated with Entergy Arkansas', Entergy Gulf States', Entergy Louisiana's, and System Energy's nuclear power plants.

Nuclear Decommissioning and Other Retirement Costs (Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, and System Energy)

See Note 8 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for information on nuclear decommissioning costs. In the second quarter of 2005, Entergy Louisiana recorded a revision to its estimated decommissioning cost liability in accordance with a new decommissioning cost study for Waterford 3 that reflected an expected life extension for the plant. The revised estimate resulted in a $153.6 million reduction in its decommissioning liability, along with a $49.2 million reduction in utility plant and a $104.4 million reduction in the related regulatory asset.

Income Taxes (Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy)

See Note 8 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding certain material income tax audit matters involving the domestic utility companies and System Energy. Following is an update to that disclosure.

Mark to Market of Certain Power Contracts

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in 2001, Entergy Louisiana changed its method of accounting for income tax purposes related to its wholesale electric power contracts. The most significant of these is the contract to purchase power from the Vidalia hydroelectric project. On audit of Entergy Louisiana's 2001 tax return, the IRS made an adjustment reducing the amount of the deduction associated with this method change. The adjustment had no material impact on Entergy Louisiana's earnings and required no additional cash payment of 2001 income tax. The Vidalia contract method change has resulted in cumulative cash flow benefits of approximately $790 million through June 30, 2005. This benefit is expected to reverse in the years 2005 through 2031. The tax accounting election has had no effect on book income tax expense. The timing of the reversal of this benefit depends on several variables, including the price of power.

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

See Note 8 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding the bankruptcy of CashPoint, which managed a network of payment agents for the domestic utility companies.

City Franchise Ordinances (Entergy New Orleans)

Entergy New Orleans provides electric and gas service in the City of New Orleans pursuant to franchise ordinances. These ordinances contain a continuing option for the City of New Orleans to purchase Entergy New Orleans' electric and gas utility properties.

Employment Litigation (Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy)

Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy are defendants in numerous lawsuits filed by former employees asserting that they were wrongfully terminated and/or discriminated against on the basis of age, race, sex, or other protected characteristics. The defendant companies deny any liability to the plaintiffs.

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

Numerous lawsuits have been filed in federal and state courts in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi primarily by contractor employees in the 1950-1980 timeframe against Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Mississippi as premises owners of power plants, for damages caused by alleged exposure to asbestos or other hazardous material. Many other defendants are named in these lawsuits as well. Presently, there are approximately 480 lawsuits involving approximately 10,000 claims. Management believes that adequate provisions have been established to cover any exposure. Additionally, negotiations continue with insurers to recover more reimbursement, while new coverage is being secured to minimize anticipated future potential exposures. Management believes that loss exposure has been and will continue to be handled successfully so that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not be material, in the aggregate, to the financial po sition or results of operation of the domestic utility companies involved in these lawsuits.

 

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS

Retail Rate Proceedings

See Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the domestic utility companies. The following are updates to the Form 10-K.

Filings with the LPSC

Global Settlement (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement resulted in credits totaling $76 million for retail electricity customers in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana service territory and credits totaling $14 million for retail electricity customers of Entergy Louisiana. The settlement dismissed Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth annual earnings reviews, Entergy Gulf States' ninth post-merger earnings review and revenue requirement analysis, the continuation of a fuel review for Entergy Gulf States, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all prudence issues associated with decisions made through May 2005 related to the nuclear plant uprates at issue in these cases, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the S ystem Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agreement case at FERC. In addition, Entergy Gulf States agreed not to seek recovery from customers of $2 million of excess refund amounts associated with the fourth through the eighth annual earnings reviews and Entergy Louisiana agreed to forgo recovery of $3.5 million of deferred 2003 capacity costs associated with certain power purchase agreements. The credits were issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

The settlement includes the establishment of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Gulf States that, among other provisions, establishes an ROE mid-point of 10.65% for the initial three-year term of the plan and permits Entergy Gulf States to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an allowed range of 9.9% to 11.4% will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Gulf States. In addition, there is the potential to extend the formula rate plan beyond the initial three-year effective period by mutual agreement of the LPSC and Entergy Gulf States. Under the settlement, there was no change to Entergy Gulf States' retail rates at that time.

Retail Rates - Electric

(Entergy Louisiana)

Entergy Louisiana made a rate filing with the LPSC requesting a base rate increase in January 2004. In March 2005, the LPSC staff and Entergy Louisiana filed a proposed settlement that included an annual base rate increase of approximately $18.3 million which was implemented, subject to refund, effective with May 2005 billings. In May 2005, the LPSC approved a modified settlement which, among other things, reduces depreciation and decommissioning expense due to assuming a life extension of Waterford 3 and results in no change in rates. Subsequently, in June 2005, Entergy Louisiana made a revised compliance filing with the LPSC supporting a revised depreciation rate for Waterford 3, which reflects the removal of interim additions, and a rate increase from the purchase of the Perryville power plant, which results in a net $0.8 million annual rate reduction. Entergy Louisiana reduced rates effective with the first billing cycle in June 2005 and expects to refund excess revenue coll ected during May 2005, including interest, in the third quarter of 2005.

The May 2005 rate settlement includes the adoption of a three-year formula rate plan, the terms of which include an ROE mid-point of 10.25% for the initial three-year term of the plan and permit Entergy Louisiana to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an allowed regulatory range of 9.45% to 11.05% will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Louisiana. The initial formula rate plan filing will be in May 2006 based on a 2005 test year with rates effective September 2006. In addition, there is the potential to extend the formula rate plan beyond the initial three-year effective period by mutual agreement of the LPSC and Entergy Louisiana.

(Entergy Gulf States)

In June 2005, Entergy Gulf States made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the test year ending December 31, 2004. The filing shows a net revenue deficiency of $2.58 million indicating that no refund liability exists. The filing also indicates that a prospective rate increase of $23.8 million is required in order for Entergy Gulf States to earn the authorized ROE mid-point of 10.65%. Subject to the consideration of comments expected to be filed by the LPSC staff and intervenors in the third quarter 2005, rate changes associated with the formula rate plan are scheduled to take effect with the first billing cycle in October 2005.  Any disputed issues will be subject to further investigation by the LPSC, with any resolution of such issues being made effective October 2005.

Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States)

In July 2004, Entergy Gulf States filed with the LPSC an application for a change in its rates and charges seeking an increase of $9.1 million in gas base rates in order to allow Entergy Gulf States an opportunity to earn a fair and reasonable rate of return. In June 2005, the LPSC unanimously approved Entergy Gulf States' proposed settlement that includes a $5.8 million gas base rate increase effective the first billing cycle of July 2005 and a rate stabilization plan with an ROE mid-point of 10.5%.

Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Gulf States)

Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT in July 2005 a request for implementation of an incremental purchased capacity recovery rider, consistent with the recently passed Texas legislation discussed below under "Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71." The rider requests $23.1 million annually in incremental revenues on a Texas retail basis which represents the incremental purchased capacity costs, including Entergy Gulf States' obligation to purchase power from Entergy Louisiana's recently acquired Perryville plant, over what is already in Entergy Gulf States' base rates. Entergy Gulf States has reached an agreement with parties with respect to the date upon which cost recovery and cost reconciliation would begin.  The parties have agreed that Entergy Gulf States will implement the rider after approval by the PUCT which could be up to 185 days from the date of filing but will  ;reconcile and recover incremental purchased capacity costs incurred beginning September 1, 2005. The September 1, 2005 agreed upon date for the beginning of the cost recovery and cost reconciliation as well as the requested amount and the processes for implementing the rider are subject to PUCT action and approval. If approved by the PUCT, the rider would be subject to semi-annual modifications and reconciliation in conjunction with Entergy Gulf States' fuel reconciliation proceedings. Also see "Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71" below for discussion of the provisions in the Texas legislation regarding Entergy Gulf States' ability to file a general rate case and for recovery of transition to competition costs.

Filings with the City Council (Entergy New Orleans)

In April 2005, Entergy New Orleans made its annual scheduled formula rate plan filings with the City Council.  The filings show that a decrease of $0.2 million in electric revenues is warranted and an increase of $3.9 million in gas revenues is warranted. The prescribed period for review by the City Council's Advisors and other parties has now commenced, and rate adjustments, if any, could be implemented as soon as September 2005.

In May 2005, Entergy New Orleans filed with the City Council a request for continuation of the formula rate plan and generation performance-based rate plan for an additional three years. The filing requests a target equity component of the capital structure of 45%, an increase from the current target of 42%.

Deferred Fuel Costs

See Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding fuel proceedings involving the domestic utility companies. The following are updates to the Form 10-K.

(Entergy Arkansas)

In March 2005, Entergy Arkansas filed with the APSC its energy cost recovery rider for the period April 2005 through March 2006. The filed energy cost rate, which accounts for 15 percent of a typical residential customer's bill using 1,000 kWh per month, increased 31 percent primarily attributable to a true-up adjustment for an under-recovery balance of $11.2 million and a nuclear refueling adjustment resulting from outages scheduled in 2005 at ANO 1 and 2.

(Entergy Gulf States)

In March 2004, Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT a fuel reconciliation case covering the period September 2000 through August 2003. Entergy Gulf States is reconciling $1.43 billion of fuel and purchased power costs on a Texas retail basis. This amount includes $8.6 million of under-recovered costs that Entergy Gulf States is asking to reconcile and roll into its fuel over/under-recovery balance to be addressed in the next appropriate fuel proceeding. This case involves imputed capacity and River Bend payment issues similar to those decided adversely in a January 2001 proceeding that is now on appeal. On January 31, 2005, the ALJ issued a Proposal for Decision that recommended disallowing $10.7 million (excluding interest) related to these two issues. In April 2005, the PUCT issued an order reversing in part the ALJ's Proposal for Decision and allowing Entergy Gulf States to recover a part of its request related to the imputed capacity and River Bend payment issues. The PUCT 's order reduced the disallowance in the case to $8.3 million. Both Entergy Gulf States and certain cities served by Entergy Gulf States filed motions for rehearing on these issues which were denied by the PUCT. Entergy Gulf States and certain Cities filed appeals to the Travis County District Court. The appeals are pending. Any disallowance will be netted against Entergy Gulf States' under-recovered costs and will be included in its deferred fuel costs balance.

In January 2001, Entergy Gulf States filed with the PUCT a fuel reconciliation case covering the period from March 1999 through August 2000. Entergy Gulf States was reconciling approximately $583 million of fuel and purchased power costs. As part of this filing, Entergy Gulf States requested authority to collect $28 million, plus interest, of under-recovered fuel and purchased power costs. In August 2002, the PUCT reduced Entergy Gulf States' request to approximately $6.3 million, including interest through July 31, 2002. Approximately $4.7 million of the total reduction to the requested surcharge relates to nuclear fuel costs that the PUCT deferred ruling on at that time. In October 2002, Entergy Gulf States appealed the PUCT's final order in Texas District Court. In its appeal, Entergy Gulf States is challenging the PUCT's disallowance of approximately $4.2 million related to imputed capacity costs and its disallowance related to costs for energy delivered from the 30% non-regu lated share of River Bend. The case was argued before the Travis County Texas District Court in August 2003 and the Travis County District Court judge affirmed the PUCT's order. In October 2003, Entergy Gulf States appealed this decision to the Court of Appeals. Oral argument before the appellate court occurred in September 2004 and in May 2005, the appellate court affirmed the lower court's decision affirming the PUCT's disallowance. Entergy Gulf States has filed a motion for rehearing with the appellate court in this case.

In January 2003, the LPSC authorized its staff to initiate a proceeding to audit the fuel adjustment clause filings of Entergy Gulf States and its affiliates pursuant to a November 1997 LPSC general order. The audit will include a review of the reasonableness of charges flowed by Entergy Gulf States through its fuel adjustment clause in Louisiana for the period January 1, 1995 through December 31, 2002. Discovery is underway, but a detailed procedural schedule extending beyond the discovery stage has not yet been established, and the LPSC staff has not yet issued its audit report. In June 2005, the LPSC expanded the audit to include the years through 2004.

(Entergy Louisiana)

In August 2000, the LPSC authorized its staff to initiate a proceeding to audit the fuel adjustment clause filings of Entergy Louisiana pursuant to a November 1997 LPSC general order. The time period that is the subject of the audit is January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001. In September 2003, the LPSC staff issued its audit report and recommended a disallowance with regard to one item. The issue relates to the alleged failure to uprate Waterford 3 in a timely manner, a claim that also has been raised in the summer 2001, 2002, and 2003 purchased power proceedings. The settlement approved by the LPSC in March 2005, discussed above, resolves the uprate imprudence disallowance and is no longer at issue in this proceeding. Subsequent to the issuance of the audit report, the scope of this docket was expanded to include a review of annual reports on fuel and purchased power transactions with affiliates and a prudence review of transmission planning issues. Also, in July 2005, t he LPSC expanded the audit to include the years 2002 through 2004. A procedural schedule has been established and LPSC staff and intervenor testimony is due in November 2005.

(Entergy Mississippi)

In January 2005, the MPSC approved a change in Entergy Mississippi's energy cost recovery rider. Entergy Mississippi's fuel over-recoveries for the third quarter of 2004 of $21.3 million will be deferred from the first quarter 2005 energy cost recovery rider adjustment calculation. The deferred amount of $21.3 million plus carrying charges is being refunded through the energy cost recovery rider in the second and third quarters of 2005 at a rate of 45% and 55%, respectively.

(Entergy New Orleans)

As discussed in Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K, the City Council passed resolutions implementing a package of measures developed by Entergy New Orleans and the Council Advisors to protect customers from potential gas price spikes during the 2004 - 2005 winter heating season including the deferral of collection of up to $6.2 million of gas costs associated with a cap on the purchased gas adjustment in November and December 2004 and in the event that the average residential customer's gas bill were to exceed a threshold level. The deferrals of $1.7 million resulting from these caps will receive accelerated recovery over a seven-month period that began in April 2005.

In November 2004, the City Council directed Entergy New Orleans to confer with the City Council Advisors regarding possible modification of the current gas cost collection mechanism in order to address concerns regarding its fluctuations particularly during the winter heating season. In June 2005, Entergy New Orleans filed a new purchased gas adjustment tariff with the City Council. If approved by the City Council, the tariff would be effective in the fourth quarter of 2005.

Fuel Adjustment Clause Litigation

See Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the complaint filed by a group of ratepayers with the City Council alleging that Entergy New Orleans and certain affiliates engaged in fuel procurement and power purchasing practices and included certain costs in its fuel adjustment charges that could have resulted in its customers being overcharged by more than $100 million over a period of years. On May 26, 2005, the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans affirmed the City Council resolution that resulted in a refund to customers of $11.3 million, including interest, during the months of June through September 2004, finding no support for the plaintiff's claim that the refund amount should be higher. In June 2005, the plaintiffs appealed the Civil District Court decision to the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71

Previous developments and information related to electric industry restructuring are presented in Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K.

Louisiana (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

In November 2001, the LPSC decided not to move forward with retail open access for any customers at this time. The LPSC instead directed its staff to hold collaborative group meetings concerning open access from time to time, and to have the LPSC staff monitor developments in neighboring states and to report to the LPSC regarding the progress of retail access developments in those states. In September 2004, in response to a study performed by the Louisiana State University Center for Energy Studies that evaluated a limited industrial-only retail choice program, the LPSC asked the LPSC staff to solicit comments and obtain information from utilities, customers, and other interested parties concerning the potential costs and benefits of a limited choice program, the impact of such a program on other customers, as well as issues such as stranded costs and transmission service.  Comments from interested parties were file d with the LPSC in January 2005. A technical conference was held in April 2005 and in May 2005 interested parties filed reply comments to arguments made at the technical conference. Entergy stated that it believes that there is no new information or credible evidence that would justify altering the LPSC's previous conclusion that retail access is not in the public interest.

Texas (Entergy Gulf States)

See Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the status of retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory and Entergy Gulf States' independent organization request.

In June 2005, a Texas law was enacted which provides that:

  • Entergy Gulf States is authorized by the legislation to proceed with a jurisdictional separation into two vertically integrated utilities, one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the LPSC and one subject solely to the retail jurisdiction of the PUCT;
  • the portions of all prior PUCT orders requiring Entergy Gulf States to comply with any provisions of Texas law governing transition to retail competition are void;
  • Entergy Gulf States must file a plan by January 1, 2006, identifying the power region(s) to be considered for certification and the steps and schedule to achieve certification;
  • Entergy Gulf States must file a transition to competition plan no later than January 1, 2007, that would address how Entergy Gulf States intends to mitigate market power and achieve full customer choice, including potential construction of additional transmission facilities, generation auctions, generation capacity divestiture, reinstatement of a customer choice pilot project, establishment of a price to beat, and other measures;
  • Entergy Gulf States' rates are subject to cost-of-service regulation until retail customer choice is implemented;
  • Entergy Gulf States may not file a general base rate case in Texas before June 30, 2007, with rates effective no earlier than June 30, 2008, but may seek before then the recovery of certain incremental purchased power capacity costs, adjusted for load growth, not in excess of five percent of its annual base rate revenues (as discussed above in "Filings with the PUCT," in July 2005 Entergy Gulf States filed a request for implementation of an incremental purchased capacity recovery rider); and
  • Entergy Gulf States may recover over a period not to exceed 15 years reasonable and necessary transition to competition costs incurred before the effective date of the legislation and not previously recovered, with appropriate carrying charges.

NOTE 3. LINES OF CREDIT, RELATED SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS, AND LONG-TERM DEBT

The short-term borrowings of the domestic utility companies and System Energy are limited to amounts authorized by the SEC. The current limits authorized are effective through November 30, 2007. In addition to borrowing from commercial banks, the domestic utility companies and System Energy are authorized to borrow from Entergy's money pool. The money pool is an inter-company borrowing arrangement designed to reduce the domestic utility companies' dependence on external short-term borrowings. Borrowings from the money pool and external borrowings combined may not exceed the SEC authorized limits. The following are the short-term borrowings from the money pool and the SEC-authorized limits for short-term borrowings for the domestic utility companies and System Energy as of June 30, 2005:

 

 

Authorized

 

Borrowings

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

$235

 

-

Entergy Gulf States

 

$340

 

$149.4

Entergy Louisiana

 

$225

 

$110.7

Entergy Mississippi

 

$160

 

-

Entergy New Orleans

 

$100

 

-

System Energy

 

$140

 

-

Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans each have 364-day credit facilities available as follows:


Company

 


Expiration Date

 

Amount of
Facility

 

Amount Drawn as of
June 30, 2005

             

Entergy Arkansas

 

April 2006

 

$85 million (a)

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

April 2006

 

$85 million (a)

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

May 2006

 

$15 million (b)

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2006

 

$25 million

 

-

Entergy New Orleans

 

May 2006

 

$15 million (b)

 

-

(a)

The combined amount borrowed by Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Louisiana under these facilities at any one time cannot exceed $85 million.

(b)

The combined amount borrowed by Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans under these facilities at any one time cannot exceed $15 million.

The 364-day credit facilities have variable interest rates and the average commitment fee is 0.13%. The $85 million Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Louisiana credit facilities each require the respective company to maintain total shareholders' equity of at least 25% of its total assets. In July 2005, Entergy New Orleans granted the lender a security interest in its customer accounts receivables to secure its borrowings under its facility. Under the terms of the security agreement, Entergy New Orleans has the option to withdraw the security interest at any time.

The following long-term debt has been issued by the domestic utility companies and System Energy in 2005:

 

Issue Date

 

Amount

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

Mortgage Bonds:

 

 

 

5.66% Series due February 2025 - Entergy Arkansas

January 2005

 

$175,000

6.18% Series due March 2035 - Entergy Gulf States

February 2005

$85,000

5.70% Series due June 2015 - Entergy Gulf States

May 2005

$200,000

4.50% Series due June 2010 - Entergy Arkansas

May 2005

 

$100,000

4.67% Series due June 2010 - Entergy Louisiana

May 2005

 

$55,000

4.98% Series due July 2010 - Entergy New Orleans

June 2005

 

$30,000

Issuances after balance sheet date:

5.12% Series due August 2010 - Entergy Gulf States

July 2005

$100,000

Other Long-Term Debt:
5.00% Series due January 2021, Independence County - Arkansas
(Entergy Arkansas)


March 2005

$45,000

The following long-term debt was retired by the domestic utility companies and System Energy thus far in 2005:

 

Retirement Date

 

Amount

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

Mortgage Bonds:

 

 

 

7.00% Series due October 2023 - Entergy Arkansas

February 2005

$175,000

Retirements after balance sheet date:
6.125% Series due July 2005 - Entergy Arkansas

July 2005 

$100,000

8.125% Series due July 2005 - Entergy New Orleans

July 2005 

$30,000

6.77% Series due August 2005 - Entergy Gulf States

August 2005 

$98,000

Other Long-Term Debt:
Grand Gulf Lease Obligation payment, (System Energy)

N/A

$28,790

8.75% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
due 2046 (Entergy Gulf States)


March 2005


$87,629

6.25% Series due January 2021, Independence County - Arkansas
(Entergy Arkansas)


April 2005


$45,000

9.0% Series due May 2015, West Feliciana Parish - Louisiana
(Entergy Gulf States)


May 2005


$45,000

7.5% Series due May 2015, West Feliciana Parish - Louisiana
(Entergy Gulf States)


May 2005


$41,600

7.7% Series due December 2014, West Feliciana Parish -
Louisiana (Entergy Gulf States)


June 2005


$94,000

Entergy Arkansas used the proceeds from the March 2005 issuance to redeem, prior to maturity, $45 million of 6.25% Series of Independence County bonds in April 2005. The issuance and retirement do not appear on the cash flow statement because the proceeds were placed in a trust and never held as cash by Entergy Arkansas.

In June 2005, Entergy Louisiana purchased its $55 million of 4.9% Series St. Charles Parish bonds from the holders, pursuant to a mandatory tender provision, and has not remarketed the bonds at this time.

Tax Exempt Bond Audit (Entergy Louisiana)

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is auditing certain Tax Exempt Bonds (Bonds) issued by St. Charles Parish, State of Louisiana (the Issuer). The Bonds were issued to finance previously unfinanced acquisition costs expended by Entergy Louisiana to acquire certain radioactive solid waste disposal facilities (the Facilities) at the Waterford Steam Electric Generating Station. In March and April 2005, the IRS issued proposed adverse determinations that the Issuer's 7.0% Series bonds due 2022, 7.5% Series bonds due 2021, and 7.05% Series bonds due 2022 are not tax exempt. The stated basis for these determinations was that radioactive waste did not constitute "solid waste" within the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code and therefore the Facilities did not qualify as solid waste disposal facilities. The Issuer has requested administrative appeals of the proposed adverse determinations with respect to the Bonds to the IRS Office of Appeals. The Issuer and Entergy Louisiana intend to continue to contest vigorously these matters. The three series of Bonds are the only series of bonds issued by the Issuer for the benefit of Entergy Louisiana that are the subject of audits by the IRS.

 

NOTE 4. PREFERRED STOCK

(Entergy Mississippi)

In June 2005, Entergy Mississippi issued 1,200,000 shares of $25 par value 6.25% Series Preferred Stock, all of which are outstanding as of June 30, 2005. The dividends are cumulative and will be payable quarterly beginning November 1, 2005. The preferred stock is redeemable on or after July 1, 2010, at Entergy Mississippi's option, at the call price of $25 per share. The proceeds from this issuance were used in the third quarter of 2005 to redeem all $20 million of Entergy Mississippi's $100 par value 8.36% Series Preferred Stock and all $10 million of Entergy Mississippi's $100 par value 7.44% Series Preferred Stock.

 

NOTE 5. RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Components of Net Pension Cost

The domestic utility companies' and System Energy's pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004, included the following components:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2005

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 during the period

 

$3,329 

 

$2,704 

 

$1,957 

 

$1,005 

 

$436 

 

$944 

Interest cost on projected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 benefit obligation

 

9,115 

 

7,235 

 

5,525 

 

2,998 

 

1,148 

 

1,413 

Expected return on assets

 

(9,009)

 

(9,709)

 

(6,666)

 

(3,566)

 

(731)

 

(1,324)

Amortization of transition asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

(69)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

415 

 

378 

 

163 

 

128 

 

57 

 

17 

Amortization of loss

 

1,613 

 

1,213 

 

730 

 

527 

 

151 

 

229 

Net pension cost

 

$5,463 

 

$1,821 

 

$1,709 

 

$1,092 

 

$1,061 

 

$1,210 

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2004

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 during the period

 

$2,923 

 

$2,416 

 

$1,715 

 

$946 

 

$424 

 

$824 

Interest cost on projected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 benefit obligation

 

8,616 

 

7,108 

 

5,178 

 

2,890 

 

1,041 

 

1,231 

Expected return on assets

 

(9,288)

 

(9,931)

 

(6,937)

 

(3,694)

 

(625)

 

(1,053)

Amortization of transition asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

(79)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

417 

 

465 

 

189 

 

141 

 

57 

 

18 

Amortization of loss

 

762 

 

32 

 

82 

 

132 

 

151 

 

193 

Net pension cost

 

$3,430 

 

$90 

 

$227 

 

$415 

 

$1,048 

 

$1,134 

The domestic utility companies' and System Energy's pension cost, including amounts capitalized, for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, included the following components:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2005

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 during the period

 

$6,658 

 

$5,408 

 

$3,914 

 

$2,010 

 

$872 

 

$1,888 

Interest cost on projected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 benefit obligation

 

18,230 

 

14,470 

 

11,050 

 

5,996 

 

2,296 

 

2,826 

Expected return on assets

 

(18,018)

 

(19,418)

 

(13,332)

 

(7,132)

 

(1,462)

 

(2,648)

Amortization of transition asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

(138)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

830 

 

756 

 

326 

 

256 

 

114 

 

34 

Amortization of loss

 

3,226 

 

2,426 

 

1,460 

 

1,054 

 

302 

 

458 

Net pension cost

 

$10,926 

 

$3,642 

 

$3,418 

 

$2,184 

 

$2,122 

 

$2,420 

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2004

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 during the period

 

$5,926 

 

$4,870 

 

$3,440 

 

$1,900 

 

$850 

 

$1,670 

Interest cost on projected

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 benefit obligation

 

17,232 

 

14,218 

 

10,362 

 

5,782 

 

2,082 

 

2,464 

Expected return on assets

 

(18,534)

 

(19,822)

 

(13,732)

 

(7,384)

 

(1,552)

 

(2,088)

Amortization of transition asset

 

 

 

 

 

 

(160)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

834 

 

930 

 

378 

 

282 

 

114 

 

36 

Amortization of loss

 

1,632 

 

674 

 

376 

 

414 

 

208 

 

304 

Net pension cost

 

$7,090 

 

$870 

 

$824 

 

$994 

 

$1,702 

 

$2,226 

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefit Cost

The domestic utility companies' and System Energy's other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the second quarters of 2005 and 2004, included the following components:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2005

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 during the period

 

$1,157 

 

$1,634 

 

$689 

 

$363 

 

$192 

 

$415 

Interest cost on APBO

 

2,589 

 

2,924 

 

1,673 

 

833 

 

789 

 

394 

Expected return on assets

 

(1,637)

 

(1,366)

 

 

(669)

 

(579)

 

(387)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

205 

 

947 

 

95 

 

88 

 

435 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(173) 

 

 

18 

 

(46)

 

10 

 

(139)

Amortization of loss

 

1,276 

 

770 

 

691 

 

471 

 

211 

 

146 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$3,417 

 

$4,909 

 

$3,166 

 

$1,040 

 

$1,058 

 

$433 

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2004

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 during the period

 

$827 

 

$1,415 

 

$614 

 

$245 

 

$178 

 

$341 

Interest cost on APBO

 

2,394 

 

2,871 

 

1,644 

 

703 

 

810 

 

371 

Expected return on assets

 

(1,529)

 

(1,256)

 

 

(631)

 

(558)

 

(316)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

(132)

 

1,147 

 

300 

 

(43)

 

529 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

63 

 

 

56 

 

26 

 

20 

 

(83)

Amortization of loss

 

1,112 

 

514 

 

457 

 

349 

 

99 

 

99 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$2,735 

 

$4,691 

 

$3,071 

 

$649 

 

$1,078 

 

$416 

The domestic utility companies' and System Energy's other postretirement benefit cost, including amounts capitalized, for the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004, included the following components:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2005

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 during the period

 

$2,314 

 

$3,268 

 

$1,378 

 

$726 

 

$384 

 

$830 

Interest cost on APBO

 

5,178 

 

5,848 

 

3,346 

 

1,666 

 

1,578 

 

788 

Expected return on assets

 

(3,274)

 

(2,732)

 

 

(1,338)

 

(1,158)

 

(774)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

410 

 

1,894 

 

190 

 

176 

 

870 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(346)

 

 

36 

 

(92)

 

20 

 

(278)

Amortization of loss

 

2,552 

 

1,540 

 

1,382 

 

942 

 

422 

 

292 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$6,834 

 

$9,818 

 

$6,332 

 

$2,080 

 

$2,116 

 

$866 

 

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

2004

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Service cost - benefits earned

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 during the period

 

$2,459 

 

$2,944 

 

$1,333 

 

$721 

 

$382 

 

$729 

Interest cost on APBO

 

5,227 

 

5,812 

 

3,344 

 

1,581 

 

1,637 

 

759 

Expected return on assets

 

(3,131)

 

(2,491)

 

 

(1,284)

 

(1,124)

 

(626)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

477 

 

2,295 

 

600 

 

211 

 

1,058 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

63 

 

 

56 

 

26 

 

20 

 

(175)

Amortization of loss

 

2,185 

 

1,163 

 

1,020 

 

697 

 

256 

 

231 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$7,280 

 

$9,723 

 

$6,353 

 

$1,952 

 

$2,229 

 

$925 

Employer Contributions

The domestic utility companies and System Energy expect to contribute the following to pension plans in 2005:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

 

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Expected 2005 pension contributions
disclosed in Form 10-K

 


$20,560

 


$18,948

 


$2,622

 


$3,416

 


$15,667

 


$9,266

Revised expected 2005 pension contributions

 

$13,802

$21,893

$3,416

$21,281

$12,305

Pension contributions made through July 2005

 

$4,003

$14,818

$1,025

$14,404

$7,694

Remaining estimated pension contributions to be made in 2005

 

$9,799

$7,075

$2,391

$6,877

$4,611

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

Based on actuarial analysis, the estimated impact of future Medicare subsidies reduced the December 31, 2004 Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation (APBO), the second quarter 2005 and 2004 other postretirement benefit cost, and the six months ended June 30, 2005 and 2004 other postretirement benefit cost for the domestic utility companies and System Energy as follows:

 

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

Entergy

 

System

 

 

Arkansas

 

Gulf States

 

Louisiana

 

Mississippi

 

New Orleans

 

Energy

 

 

(In Thousands)

Reduction in 12/31/2004 APBO

 

($35,928)

 

($31,846)

 

($20,085)

 

($12,227)

 

($9,742)

 

($4,982)

Reduction in second quarter 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 other postretirement benefit cost

 

($1,446)

 

($1,269)

 

($790)

 

($476)

 

($350)

 

($245)

Reduction in second quarter 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 other postretirement benefit cost

 

($777)

 

($821)

 

($605)

 

($250)

 

($261)

 

($161)

Reduction in six months ended
 June 30, 2005 other
 postretirement benefit cost

 



($2,892)

 



($2,538)

 



($1,580)

 



($952)

 



($700)

 



($490)

Reduction in six months ended
 June 30, 2004 other
 postretirement benefit cost

 



($1,275)

 



($1,375)

 



($837)

 



($406)

 



($405)

 



($214)

For further information on the Medicare Act refer to Note 10 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy's financial statements in the Form 10-K.

__________________________________

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

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of June 30, 2005, evaluations were performed under the supervision and with the participation of Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy Resources (individually "Registrant" and collectively the "Registrants") management, including their respective Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO). The evaluations assessed the effectiveness of the Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the evaluations, each CEO and CFO has concluded that, as to the Registrant or Registrants for which they serve as CEO or CFO, the Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by each Registrant in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and f orms.

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See "PART I, Item 1, Litigation" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of legal proceedings affecting Entergy. Following is an update to that discussion.

Entergy New Orleans Fuel Clause Lawsuit

See "Entergy New Orleans Fuel Clause Lawsuit" in Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K for a discussion of the complaint filed with the City Council by a group of ratepayers alleging that Entergy New Orleans and certain affiliates engaged in fuel procurement and power purchasing practices and included certain costs in its fuel adjustment charges that could have resulted in its customers being overcharged by more than $100 million over a period of years. On May 26, 2005, the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans affirmed the City Council resolution that resulted in a refund to customers of $11.3 million, including interest, during the months of June through September 2004, finding no support for the plaintiff's claim that the refund amount should be higher. In June 2005, the plaintiffs appealed the Civil District Court decision to the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Entergy New Orleans Rate of Return Lawsuit

See "Entergy New Orleans Rate of Return Lawsuit" in Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K for a discussion of the hearing set before the City Council regarding the effect of the provision of the 1922 Ordinance in setting lawful rates. The hearing concluded in June 2005.

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

See "Texas Power Price Lawsuit" in Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K for a discussion of the lawsuit filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class apparently of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present. The plaintiff's appeal of the district court's dismissal of the lawsuit has been briefed and oral arguments are expected to be heard by the Court of Appeals this year.

Entergy Louisiana Formula Ratemaking Plan Lawsuit

See "Entergy Louisiana Formula Ratemaking Plan Lawsuit" in Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K for a discussion of the complaint filed against Entergy Louisiana and the LPSC in state court in East Baton Rouge Parish on behalf of a group of Entergy Louisiana ratepayers. This case has been abandoned by operation of law.

Fiber Optic Cable Litigation

See "Fiber Optic Cable Litigation" in Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K for a discussion of the litigation filed by several property owners in state court in St. James Parish, Louisiana against Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Services, Entergy Technology Holding Company (ETHC), and Entergy Technology Company (ETC) purportedly on behalf of all property owners in Louisiana who have conveyed easements to the defendants. The Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal has denied Entergy's appeal of the trial court's order certifying a class. Entergy is seeking appellate review before the Louisiana Supreme Court.

With respect to the separate lawsuits filed by several property owners against Entergy Corporation, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy Services, ETHC, and ETC in state court in various counties in Mississippi alleging that Entergy Mississippi installed fiber optic cable across their properties without obtaining appropriate easements, plaintiffs in some of the lawsuits have agreed to dismiss the lawsuits based on evidence that there was no fiber optic cable running across their property.

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

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)

Period

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased

 

Average Price Paid
per Share

 

Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of a Publicly
Announced Plan

 

Maximum $ Amount
of Shares that May
Yet be Purchased
Under a Plan (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4/01/2005-4/30/2005

 

1,082,100

 

$71.56

 

1,082,100

 

$668,580,091

5/01/2005-5/31/2005

 

2,039,400

 

$72.14

 

2,039,400

 

$531,610,303

6/01/2005-6/30/2005

 

432,900

 

$75.36

 

432,900

 

$520,169,627

Total

 

3,554,400

 

$72.35

 

3,554,400

 

 

(1)

In accordance with Entergy's stock-based compensation plans, Entergy periodically grants stock options to its employees, which may be exercised to obtain shares of Entergy's common stock. According to the plans, these shares can be newly issued shares, treasury stock, or shares purchased on the open market. See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for additional discussion of the stock-based compensation plans. Entergy's management has been authorized to repurchase on the open market shares up to an amount sufficient to fund the exercise of grants under the plans, and this authorization does not have an expiration date. In August 2004, Entergy announced a program under which Entergy Corporation will repurchase up to $1.5 billion of its common stock. The program extends through the end of 2006. This repurchase program is incremental to the existing authority to repurchase shares to fund the exercise of employee stock options. The amount of rep urchases under the program may vary as a result of material changes in business results or capital spending, or as a result of material new investment opportunities.

(2)

Maximum amount of shares that may yet be repurchased relates only to the $1.5 billion plan and does not include an estimate of the amount of shares that may be purchased to fund the exercise of grants under the stock-based compensation plans.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Election of Board of Directors

Entergy Corporation

The annual meeting of stockholders of Entergy Corporation was held on May 13, 2005. The following matters were voted on and received the specified number of votes for, abstentions, votes withheld (against), and broker non-votes:

  1. Election of Directors:

  2. Name of Nominee

     


    Votes For

     


    Votes Withheld

     

     

     

     

     

    Maureen S. Bateman

     

    189,249,148

     

    2,266,155

    W. Frank Blount

     

    185,747,483

     

    5,767,820

    Simon D. deBree

     

    189,220,546

     

    2,294,757

    Claiborne P. Deming

     

    189,372,818

     

    2,142,485

    Alexis M. Herman

     

    189,015,162

     

    2,500,141

    Donald C. Hintz

     

    187,510,762

     

    4,004,541

    J. Wayne Leonard

     

    187,755,699

     

    3,759,604

    Robert v.d. Luft

     

    187,644,635

     

    3,870,668

    Kathleen A. Murphy

     

    189,219,495

     

    2,295,808

    James R. Nichols

     

    187,612,722

     

    3,902,581

    William A. Percy, II

     

    189,167,248

     

    2,348,055

    Dennis H. Reilley*

     

    189,064,868

     

    2,450,435

    Steven V. Wilkinson

     

    189,221,507

     

    2,293,796

    * Mr. Reilley resigned from the Board effective May 20, 2005.

  3. Ratify the appointment of independent public accountants, Deloitte & Touche LLP for the year 2005: 189,485,156 votes for; 558,689 votes against; 1,471,459 abstentions; and 1 broker non-vote.
  4. Stockholder proposal regarding Independent Chairman of the Board: 65,527,431 votes for; 105,745,046 votes against; 2,279,345 abstentions; and 17,963,481 broker non-votes.
  5. Stockholder proposal regarding Majority Election of Directors: 70,538,898 votes for; 100,532,385 votes against; 2,480,539 abstentions; and 17,963,481 broker non-votes.

Entergy Arkansas

A consent in lieu of a meeting of common stockholders was executed on May 27, 2005. The consent was signed on behalf of Entergy Corporation, the holder of all issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The common stockholder, by such consent, elected the following individuals to serve as directors constituting the Board of Directors of Entergy Arkansas: Hugh T. McDonald, Chairman, Leo P. Denault, Mark Savoff, and Richard J. Smith.

Entergy Gulf States

A consent in lieu of a meeting of common stockholders was executed on May 27, 2005. The consent was signed on behalf of Entergy Corporation, the holder of all issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The common stockholder, by such consent, elected the following individuals to serve as directors constituting the Board of Directors of Entergy Gulf States: Joseph F. Domino, Chairman, E. Renae Conley, Leo P. Denault, Mark Savoff, and Richard J. Smith.

Entergy Louisiana

A consent in lieu of a meeting of common stockholders was executed on May 27, 2005. The consent was signed on behalf of Entergy Corporation, the holder of all issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The common stockholder, by such consent, elected the following individuals to serve as directors constituting the Board of Directors of Entergy Louisiana: E. Renae Conley, Chairman, Leo P. Denault, Mark Savoff, and Richard J. Smith.

Entergy Mississippi

A consent in lieu of a meeting of common stockholders was executed on May 27, 2005. The consent was signed on behalf of Entergy Corporation, the holder of all issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The common stockholder, by such consent, elected the following individuals to serve as directors constituting the Board of Directors of Entergy Mississippi: Carolyn C. Shanks, Chairman, Leo P. Denault, Mark Savoff, and Richard J. Smith.

Entergy New Orleans

A consent in lieu of a meeting of common stockholders was executed on May 27, 2005. The consent was signed on behalf of Entergy Corporation, the holder of all issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The common stockholder, by such consent, elected the following individuals to serve as directors constituting the Board of Directors of Entergy New Orleans: Daniel F. Packer, Chairman, Leo P. Denault, Mark Savoff, and Richard J. Smith.

System Energy

A consent in lieu of a meeting of common stockholders was executed on May 27, 2005. The consent was signed on behalf of Entergy Corporation, the holder of all issued and outstanding shares of common stock. The common stockholder, by such consent, elected the following individuals to serve as directors constituting the Board of Directors of System Energy: Gary J. Taylor, Chairman, Steven C. McNeal, and Leo P. Denault.

Item 5. Other Information

Property and Other Generation Resources

See "Part I, Item 1" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the affiliate purchased power agreements (PPAs) filed by Entergy with the FERC. On June 30, 2005, the FERC ALJ issued an initial decision finding, among other things, that the PPAs are just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory, except for the Entergy Arkansas retained share of Grand Gulf portion (19MW) of the Entergy Arkansas 110MW PPAs with Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans. The ALJ therefore removed the 19MW attributable to the Entergy Arkansas retained share from the PPA with Entergy Louisiana. Because the City Council desired to keep the retained share in the PPA with Entergy New Orleans, the ALJ did not remove the 19MW from that PPA. There is no deadline with respect to when a final decision will be issued by the FERC.

On June 28, 2005, a proposed recommendation was issued by an LPSC ALJ regarding the River Bend PPA between Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana and the PPA between Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Louisiana for capacity from a portion of Entergy Arkansas' coal and nuclear fueled base load resources (EAI WBL).  The ALJ found that once certain transmission issues are resolved, Entergy Louisiana should be encouraged to acquire as much of the 30% share of River Bend as Entergy Gulf States receives authorization to make available. The ALJ further found that the River Bend PPA offers the lowest cost when compared to proposals submitted in response to the Entergy Fall 2002 and Spring 2003 requests for proposal for supply side resources, that it should be dispatchable by the Entergy System, and that it provides Entergy Louisiana with a diverse solid fuel resource that should offer price stability during a time of rising gas prices.  Entergy believes that the transmission issues have been resolved.  With respect to the EAI WBL, the LPSC ALJ found that because there are no transmission issues with respect to this contract and because the pricing of the PPA is to be at the revised MSS-4 price (except for the Grand Gulf related portion of the PPA, which would be priced at $46) the PPA is attractive to ratepayers.  The LPSC ALJ also determined that the FERC is the regulatory body with jurisdiction to determine whether a right of first refusal to the underlying EAI WBL resources exists under the System Agreement and that if the FERC were to determine that such a right of first refusal does exist, the LPSC may want to direct Entergy Louisiana to exercise that right.  In a June 30, 2005 decision, the presiding FERC ALJ determined that such a right of first refusal does not exist.  A final decision from the LPSC is expected in the late third quarter or fourth quarter of 2005.

Federal Regulation

FERC Audits

See "FERC Audits" in Part I, Item 1 in the Form 10-K for a discussion of audits and reviews initiated by the FERC. The FERC is currently reviewing certain wholesale sales and purchases involving EPMC that occurred during the 1998-2001 time period and similar transactions that Entergy-Koch Trading may have undertaken. EPMC was an Entergy subsidiary engaged in non-regulated wholesale marketing and trading activities prior to the formation of Entergy-Koch. Entergy is working with the FERC investigation staff to provide information regarding these transactions.

Other Customer-initiated Proceedings at the FERC

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the complaint filed with the FERC in February 2005 by ExxonMobil Chemical Company and ExxonMobil Refining & Supply Company (ExxonMobil) against Entergy Services and the domestic utility companies. On April 18, 2005, the FERC (1) rejected as unfounded ExxonMobil's allegation concerning the netting of its station power needs; and (2) set for hearing the question of whether the facility upgrades and related charges are subject to FERC jurisdiction and, if so, when they became subject to FERC jurisdiction, whether the monthly facility charge violated FERC pricing policy, and whether any refunds are appropriate. The FERC then held the hearing in abeyance in order to provide the parties an opportunity to settle their dispute before hearing procedures commence. Settlement discussions are underway.

On January 24, 2005 Cottonwood Energy Company, L.P., an independent generator, filed with the FERC a rate schedule for reactive power that proposes to impose on Entergy Gulf States a rate for reactive supply service allegedly supplied by Cottonwood's electric generating facility. Cottonwood has proposed a fixed monthly charge ($3.4 million annually), which according to Cottonwood represents its revenue requirement for reactive power service. Entergy believes that independent generators should only be compensated for reactive power to the extent that they have an affirmative and continual obligation to provide reactive power support beyond their power factor range when directed to do so by the transmission provider, and is opposing Cottonwood's rate schedule. On March 23, 2005, the FERC accepted Cottonwood's proposed reactive power rate schedule for filing effective on February 1, 2005, subject to refund, and established hearing and settlement judge procedures. A hearing in this p roceeding is currently scheduled to commence in January 2006, with an ALJ initial decision scheduled to be issued by April 2006. A similar filing was made by Union Power Partners in May 2005 requesting $4.15 million annually. On July 15, 2005, the FERC accepted Union Power Partners' proposed reactive power rate schedule for filing, effective May 18, subject to refund and established hearing and settlement judge procedures. In the event that Cottonwood and UPP are successful, Entergy anticipates that other merchant plants located on Entergy's transmission system may request similar compensation.

Environmental Regulation

See "PART I, Item 1, Clean Air Act and Subsequent Amendments, Hazardous Air Pollutants" in the Form 10-K for information related to the hazardous air pollutant emissions reduction programs. In March 2005, the EPA issued a rule to permanently cap and reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The Clean Air Mercury Rule establishes "standards of performance" limiting mercury emissions from new and existing coal-fired power plants and creates a market-based cap-and-trade program that will reduce nationwide utility emissions of mercury in two distinct phases. The first phase cap is 38 tons beginning in 2010. The rule has been challenged in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Unless the rule is stayed, however, the compliance deadlines remain in effect. The rule is also being challenged by various members of the U.S. Senate through a process called the Congressional Review Act. Entergy will continue to monitor these d evelopments.

Entergy owns units that will be subject to the mercury emissions regulations and is studying compliance options in order to determine the best control alternative. Entergy estimates that any necessary capital expenditures for its coal facilities will occur through 2009 and will be approximately $26 million, including $15.4 million at Entergy Arkansas, $4.9 million at Entergy Gulf States, and $5.3 million at Entergy Mississippi. Ongoing operating costs will increase beginning in 2010.

See "PART I, Item 1, Clean Air Act and Subsequent Amendments, Interstate Air Transport" in the Form 10-K for information related to SO2 and NOX emissions reduction programs. In March 2005, the EPA finalized the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which will reduce SO2 and NOX emissions from electric generation plants in order to improve air quality in 29 eastern states. The rule will require a combination of capital investment to install pollution control equipment and increased operating costs. Entergy's capital investment and annual operation and maintenance allowance purchase costs will depend on the economic assessment of NOX and SO2 allowance markets, the cost of control technologies, and unit usage. Entergy estimates that the capital expenditures for its Fossil generation fleet will occur through 2009 and will be approximately $90 million, including $2.9 million at Entergy Arkansas, $17 million at E ntergy Gulf States, $36.1 million at Entergy Louisiana, $6.2 million at Entergy Mississippi, and $27.4 million at Entergy New Orleans.

The capital financial impact could be offset by emission markets which allow for purchases or use of allocated credits; however, the allocation of the emission allowances and the set up of the market will determine the ultimate cost to Entergy. Entergy believes that the allocation is unfairly skewed towards states with relatively higher emissions by the use of a fuel-adjustment factor in the final rule that was not included in the draft rule. Entergy will continue to study the final rule's impact to its generation fleet and will work to ensure that all states are treated fairly in the allocation of emission credits. Entergy has filed a Petition for Reconsideration with the EPA and a Petition for Review in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit concerning the final rule's use of fuel-adjustment factors.

Election of Directors

On July 29, 2005, the Board elected two new members, Gary W. Edwards and Stuart L. Levenick.  There is no arrangement or understanding between either of the newly-elected directors and any person pursuant to which each was selected as a director.

Earnings Ratios (Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy)

The domestic utility companies and System Energy have calculated ratios of earnings to fixed charges and ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends pursuant to Item 503 of Regulation S-K of the SEC as follows:

 

Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

December 31,

 

June 30,

 

2000

 

2001

 

2002

 

2003

 

2004

 

2005

                       

Entergy Arkansas

3.01

 

3.29

 

2.79

 

3.17

 

3.37

 

3.64

Entergy Gulf States

2.60

 

2.36

 

2.49

 

1.51

 

3.04

 

2.82

Entergy Louisiana

3.33

 

2.76

 

3.14

 

3.93

 

3.60

 

3.80

Entergy Mississippi

2.33

 

2.14

 

2.48

 

3.06

 

3.41

 

3.34

Entergy New Orleans

2.66

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

1.73

 

3.60

 

3.28

System Energy

2.41

 

2.12

 

3.25

 

3.66

 

3.95

 

4.25

 

Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges
and Preferred Dividends

 

Twelve Months Ended

 

December 31,

 

June 30,

 

2000

 

2001

 

2002

 

2003

 

2004

 

2005

                       

Entergy Arkansas

2.70

 

2.99

 

2.53

 

2.79

 

2.98

 

3.22

Entergy Gulf States

2.39

 

2.21

 

2.40

 

1.45

 

2.90

 

2.69

Entergy Louisiana

2.93

 

2.51

 

2.86

 

3.46

 

3.16

 

3.34

Entergy Mississippi

2.09

 

1.96

 

2.27

 

2.77

 

3.07

 

3.00

Entergy New Orleans

2.43

 

(a)

 

(b)

 

1.59

 

3.31

 

2.99

(a)

Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001, for Entergy New Orleans were not adequate to cover fixed charges and combined fixed charges and preferred dividends by $6.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively.

(b)

Earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002, for Entergy New Orleans were not adequate to cover fixed charges and combined fixed charges and preferred dividends by $0.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively.

Item 6. Exhibits *

**

4(a)

Sixtieth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2005, to Entergy Louisiana's Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of April 1, 1944 (A-3(d) to Rule 24 Certificate dated May 18, 2005 in 70-10086).

     

**

4(b)

Seventieth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2005, to Entergy Gulf States' Indenture of Mortgage, dated as of September 1, 1926 (A-3(iv) to Rule 24 Certificate dated June 2, 2005 in 70-10158).

     
 

4(c)

Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 1, 2005, to Entergy Arkansas' Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1944.

     
 

4(d)

Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2005, among Entergy Corporation, the Banks (Citibank, N.A., ABN AMRO Bank N.V., BNP Paribas, J. P. Morgan Chase Bank, The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, Barclays Bank PLC, Calyon New York Branch, KeyBank National Association, Morgan Stanley Bank, The Bank of New York, Wachovia Bank, N.A., Credit Suisse First Boston (Cayman Islands Branch), Lehman Brothers Bank (FSB), Regions Bank, Societe Generale, Union Bank of California, N.A., Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG (New York Branch), Mellon Bank, N.A., KBC Bank N.V., Mizuho Corporate Bank Limited, West LB AG, New York Branch, and UFJ Bank Limited, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent and LC Issuing Bank, and ABN AMRO Bank, N.V., as LC Issuing Bank.

     
 

4(e)

Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 1, 2005, to Entergy New Orleans' Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of May 1, 1987.

     
 

4(f)

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005, among Entergy Corporation, as Borrower, Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Bank, and Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent.

     
 

4(g)

Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005, among Entergy Corporation, as Borrower, Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Bank, and Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent.

     

**

4(h)

Seventy-first Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2005, to Entergy Gulf States' Indenture of Mortgage, dated as of September 1, 1926 (A-3(v) to Rule 24 Certificate dated July 21, 2005 in 70-10158).

     
 

31(a) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Corporation.

     
 

31(b) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Corporation.

     
 

31(c) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Arkansas.

     
 

31(d) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Gulf States.

     
 

31(e) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana.

     
 

31(f) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Mississippi.

     
 

31(g) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy New Orleans.

     
 

31(h) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for System Energy.

     
 

31(i) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans.

     
 

31(j) -

Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for System Energy.

     
 

32(a) -

Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Corporation.

     
 

32(b) -

Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Corporation.

     
 

32(c) -

Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Arkansas.

     
 

32(d) -

Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Gulf States.

     
 

32(e) -

Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana.

     
 

32(f) -

Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Mississippi.

     
 

32(g) -

Section 1350 Certification for Entergy New Orleans.

     
 

32(h) -

Section 1350 Certification for System Energy.

     
 

32(i) -

Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans.

     
 

32(j) -

Section 1350 Certification for System Energy.

     
 

99(a) -

Entergy Arkansas' Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends, as defined.

     
 

99(b) -

Entergy Gulf States' Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends, as defined.

     
 

99(c) -

Entergy Louisiana's Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends, as defined.

     
 

99(d) -

Entergy Mississippi's Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends, as defined.

     
 

99(e) -

Entergy New Orleans' Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends, as defined.

     
 

99(f) -

System Energy's Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges, as defined.

___________________________

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, Entergy Corporation agrees to furnish to the Commission upon request any instrument with respect to long-term debt that is not registered or listed herein as an Exhibit because the total amount of securities authorized under such agreement does not exceed ten percent of the total assets of Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

*

Reference is made to a duplicate list of exhibits being filed as a part of this report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005, which list, prepared in accordance with Item 102 of Regulation S-T of the SEC, immediately precedes the exhibits being filed with this report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

**

Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. The signature for each undersigned company shall be deemed to relate only to matters having reference to such company or its subsidiaries.

ENTERGY CORPORATION
ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.

 

/s/ Nathan E. Langston
Nathan E. Langston
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
(For each Registrant and for each as
Principal Accounting Officer)

 

Date: August 4, 2005

 

EX-4 2 a4c.htm

Exhibit 4(c)

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.

TO

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS

(successor to Guaranty Trust Company of New York)

AND

STANLEY BURG

(successor to Henry A. Theis)

AND

(as to property, real or personal, situated or being in Missouri)

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(successor to Marvin A. Mueller)

As Trustees under Entergy Arkansas, Inc.'s Mortgage and Deed of Trust,
Dated as of October 1, 1944

___________________________

SIXTY-FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Providing among other things for
First Mortgage Bonds, 4.50% Series due June 1, 2010 (Seventy-second Series)

__________________________

Dated as of May 1, 2005

 

SIXTY-FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

INDENTURE, dated as of May 1, 2005, between ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC., a corporation of the State of Arkansas, whose post office address is 425 West Capitol, Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 (hereinafter sometimes called the "Company"), and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS (successor to Guaranty Trust Company of New York), a New York banking corporation, whose post office address is 60 Wall Street, MS NYC 60-2710, New York, New York 10005 (hereinafter sometimes called the "Corporate Trustee"), and STANLEY BURG (successor to Henry A. Theis) (hereinafter sometimes called the "Co-Trustee"), and (as to property, real or personal, situated or being in Missouri) THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (successor to Marvin A. Mueller), whose mailing address is 10161 Centurion Parkway, Jacksonville, Florida 32256 (said The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association being hereinafter sometimes called the "Missouri Co-Trustee" and th e Corporate Trustee, the Co-Trustee and the Missouri Co-Trustee being hereinafter together sometimes called the "Trustees"), as Trustees under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of October 1, 1944 (hereinafter sometimes called the "Mortgage"), which Mortgage was executed and delivered by the Company to secure the payment of bonds issued or to be issued under and in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage, reference to which Mortgage is hereby made, this indenture (hereinafter called the "Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture") being supplemental thereto.

WHEREAS, the Mortgage was appropriately filed or recorded in various official records in the States of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of July 7, 1949, was executed by the Company appointing Herbert E. Twyeffort as Co-Trustee in succession to Henry A. Theis (resigned) under the Mortgage, and by Herbert E. Twyeffort accepting said appointment, and said instrument was appropriately filed or recorded in various official records in the States of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of March 1, 1960, was executed by the Company appointing Grainger S. Greene as Co-Trustee in succession to Herbert E. Twyeffort (resigned) under the Mortgage, and by Grainger S. Greene accepting said appointment, and said instrument was appropriately filed or recorded in various official records in the States of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, by the Twenty-first Supplemental Indenture mentioned below, the Company, among other things, appointed John W. Flaherty as Co-Trustee in succession to Grainger S. Greene (resigned) under the Mortgage, and John W. Flaherty accepted said appointment; and

WHEREAS, by the Thirty-third Supplemental Indenture mentioned below, the Company, among other things, appointed Marvin A. Mueller as Missouri Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, and Marvin A. Mueller accepted said appointment; and

WHEREAS, by the Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture mentioned below, the Company, among other things, appointed The Boatmen's National Bank of St. Louis as Missouri Co-Trustee in succession to Marvin A. Mueller (resigned) under the Mortgage, and The Boatmen's National Bank of St. Louis accepted said appointment; and

WHEREAS, an instrument, dated as of September 1, 1994, was executed by the Company appointing Bankers Trust Company as Trustee, and Stanley Burg as Co-Trustee, in succession to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York (resigned) and John W. Flaherty (resigned), respectively, under the Mortgage and Bankers Trust Company and Stanley Burg accepted said appointments, and said instrument was appropriately filed or recorded in various official records in the States of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Wyoming; and

WHEREAS, by the Fifty-fifth Supplemental Indenture mentioned below, the Company, among other things, appointed Peter D. Van Cleve as Missouri Co-Trustee in succession to The Boatmen's National Bank of St. Louis (resigned) under the Mortgage, and Peter D. Van Cleve accepted said appointment; and

WHEREAS, by an instrument, dated as of May 31, 2000, the Company appointed BNY Trust Company of Missouri as Missouri Co-Trustee in succession to Peter D. Van Cleve (resigned) under the Mortgage, and BNY Trust Company of Missouri accepted said appointment, and said instrument was appropriately filed or recorded in various official records in the State of Missouri; and

WHEREAS, by an instrument, dated as of April 15, 2002, filed with the Banking Department of the State of New York, Bankers Trust Company, Trustee, effected a corporate name change pursuant to which, effective such date, it is known as Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas; and

WHEREAS, by an instrument dated November 1, 2004, filed with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in Colorado, BNY Trust Company of Missouri merged into BNY Missouri Interim Trust Company, National Association, and by an instrument dated November 1, 2004, filed with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency in Colorado, BNY Missouri Interim Trust Company, National Association, merged into The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association; and

WHEREAS, by the Sixty-third Supplemental Indenture mentioned below, the Company, the Corporate Trustee, Stanley Burg as Co-Trustee, and The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association, as Missouri Co-Trustee, appointed Jeffrey Schroeder to serve as Missouri Co-Trustee under the Mortgage, and Jeffrey Schroeder accepted such appointment; and

WHEREAS, by an instrument effective as of February 28, 2005, Jeffrey Schroeder resigned as a Missouri Co-Trustee; and

WHEREAS, by the Mortgage the Company covenanted that it would execute and deliver such supplemental indenture or indentures and such further instruments and do such further acts as might be necessary or proper to carry out more effectually the purposes of the Mortgage and to make subject to the lien of the Mortgage any property thereafter acquired and intended to be subject to the lien thereof; and

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees the following supplemental indentures:

Designation

Dated as of

First Supplemental Indenture

July 1, 1947

Second Supplemental Indenture

August 1, 1948

Third Supplemental Indenture

October 1, 1949

Fourth Supplemental Indenture

June 1, 1950

Fifth Supplemental Indenture

October 1, 1951

Sixth Supplemental Indenture

September 1, 1952

Seventh Supplemental Indenture

June 1, 1953

Eighth Supplemental Indenture

August 1, 1954

Ninth Supplemental Indenture

April 1, 1955

Tenth Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1959

Eleventh Supplemental Indenture

May 1, 1961

Twelfth Supplemental Indenture

February 1, 1963

Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture

April 1, 1965

Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture

March 1, 1966

Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture

March 1, 1967

Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture

April 1, 1968

Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture

June 1, 1968

Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1969

Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture

August 1, 1970

Twentieth Supplemental Indenture

March 1, 1971

Twenty-first Supplemental Indenture

August 1, 1971

Twenty-second Supplemental Indenture

April 1, 1972

Twenty-third Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1972

Twenty-fourth Supplemental Indenture

June 1, 1973

Twenty-fifth Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1973

Twenty-sixth Supplemental Indenture

June 1, 1974

Twenty-seventh Supplemental Indenture

November 1, 1974

Twenty-eighth Supplemental Indenture

July 1, 1975

Twenty-ninth Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1977

Thirtieth Supplemental Indenture

July 1, 1978

Thirty-first Supplemental Indenture

February 1, 1979

Thirty-second Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1980

Thirty-third Supplemental Indenture

January 1, 1981

Thirty-fourth Supplemental Indenture

August 1, 1981

Thirty-fifth Supplemental Indenture

February 1, 1982

Thirty-sixth Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1982

Thirty-seventh Supplemental Indenture

February 1, 1983

Thirty-eighth Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1984

Thirty-ninth Supplemental Indenture

December 1, 1985

Fortieth Supplemental Indenture

July 1, 1986

Forty-first Supplemental Indenture

July 1, 1989

Forty-second Supplemental Indenture

February 1, 1990

Forty-third Supplemental Indenture

October 1, 1990

Forty-fourth Supplemental Indenture

November 1, 1990

Forty-fifth Supplemental Indenture

January 1, 1991

Forty-sixth Supplemental Indenture

August 1, 1992

Forty-seventh Supplemental Indenture

November 1, 1992

Forty-eighth Supplemental Indenture

June 15, 1993

Forty-ninth Supplemental Indenture

August 1, 1993

Fiftieth Supplemental Indenture

October 1, 1993

Fifty-first Supplemental Indenture

October 1, 1993

Fifty-second Supplemental Indenture

June 15, 1994

Fifty-third Supplemental Indenture

March 1, 1996

Fifty-fourth Supplemental Indenture

March 1, 1997

Fifty-fifth Supplemental Indenture

March 1, 2000

Fifty-sixth Supplemental Indenture

July 1, 2001

Fifty-seventh Supplemental Indenture

March 1, 2002

Fifty-eighth Supplemental Indenture

November 1, 2002

Fifty-ninth Supplemental Indenture

May 1, 2003

Sixtieth Supplemental Indenture

June 1, 2003

Sixty-first Supplemental Indenture

June 15, 2003

Sixty-second Supplemental Indenture

October 1, 2004

Sixty-third Supplemental Indenture

January 1, 2005

Sixty-fourth Supplemental Indenture

March 1, 2005

which supplemental indentures were appropriately filed or recorded in various official records in the States of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee and Wyoming, as applicable; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the property described in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, the Company has acquired certain other property, rights and interests in property; and

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore issued, in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage, as supplemented, the following series of First Mortgage Bonds:

Series

Principal
Amount
Issued

Principal
Amount
Outstanding

3 1/8% Series due 1974

$30,000,000

None

2 7/8% Series due 1977

11,000,000

None

3 1/8% Series due 1978

7,500,000

None

2 7/8% Series due 1979

8,700,000

None

2 7/8% Series due 1980

6,000,000

None

3 5/8% Series due 1981

8,000,000

None

3 1/2% Series due 1982

15,000,000

None

4 1/4% Series due 1983

18,000,000

None

3 1/4% Series due 1984

7,500,000

None

3 3/8% Series due 1985

18,000,000

None

5 5/8% Series due 1989

15,000,000

None

4 7/8% Series due 1991

12,000,000

None

4 3/8% Series due 1993

15,000,000

None

4 5/8% Series due 1995

25,000,000

None

5 3/4% Series due 1996

25,000,000

None

5 7/8% Series due 1997

30,000,000

None

7 3/8% Series due 1998

15,000,000

None

9 1/4% Series due 1999

25,000,000

None

9 5/8% Series due 2000

25,000,000

None

7 5/8% Series due 2001

30,000,000

None

8 % Series due August 1, 2001

30,000,000

None

7 3/4% Series due 2002

35,000,000

None

7 1/2% Series due December 1, 2002

15,000,000

None

8 % Series due 2003

40,000,000

None

8 1/8% Series due December 1, 2003

40,000,000

None

10 1/2% Series due 2004

40,000,000

None

9 1/4% Series due November 1, 1981

60,000,000

None

10 1/8% Series due July 1, 2005

40,000,000

None

9 1/8% Series due December 1, 2007

75,000,000

None

9 7/8% Series due July 1, 2008

75,000,000

None

10 1/4% Series due February 1, 2009

60,000,000

None

16 1/8% Series due December 1, 1986

70,000,000

None

4 1/2% Series due September 1, 1983

1,202,000

None

5 1/2% Series due January 1, 1988

598,310

None

5 5/8% Series due May 1, 1990

1,400,000

None

6 1/4% Series due December 1, 1996

3,560,000

None

9 3/4% Series due September 1, 2000

4,600,000

None

8 3/4% Series due March 1, 1998

9,800,000

None

17 3/8% Series due August 1, 1988

75,000,000

None

16 1/2% Series due February 1, 1991

80,000,000

None

13 3/8% Series due December 1, 2012

75,000,000

None

13 1/4% Series due February 1, 2013

25,000,000

None

14 1/8% Series due December 1, 2014

100,000,000

None

Pollution Control Series A

128,800,000

None

10 1/4% Series due July 1, 2016

50,000,000

None

9 3/4% Series due July 1, 2019

75,000,000

None

10% Series due February 1, 2020

150,000,000

None

10 3/8% Series due October 1, 2020

175,000,000

None

Solid Waste Disposal Series A

21,066,667

None

Solid Waste Disposal Series B

28,440,000

None

7 1/2% Series due August 1, 2007

100,000,000

None

7.90% Series due November 1, 2002

25,000,000

None

8.70% Series due November 1, 2022

25,000,000

None

Pollution Control Series B

46,875,000

46,875,000

6.65% Series due August 1, 2005

115,000,000

None

6 % Series due October 1, 2003

155,000,000

None

7 % Series due October 1, 2023

175,000,000

None

Pollution Control Series C

20,319,000

20,319,000

Pollution Control Series D

9,586,400

9,586,400

8 3/4% Series due March 1, 2026

85,000,000

None

7% Series due March 1, 2002

85,000,000

None

7.72 % Series due March 1, 2003

100,000,000

None

6 1/8 % Series due July 1, 2005

100,000,000

100,000,000

6.70% Series due April 1, 2032

100,000,000

100,000,000

6.00% Series due November 1, 2032

100,000,000

100,000,000

5.40% Series due May 1, 2018

150,000,000

150,000,000

5.90% Series due June 1, 2033

100,000,000

100,000,000

5% Series due July 1, 2018

115,000,000

115,000,000

6.38% Series due November 1, 2034

60,000,000

60,000,000

5.66% Series due February 1, 2025

175,000,000

175,000,000

5% Pollution Control Series E

45,000,000

45,000,000

which bonds are also hereinafter sometimes called bonds of the First through Seventy-first Series, respectively; and

WHEREAS, Section 8 of the Mortgage provides that the form of each series of bonds (other than the First Series) issued thereunder and of the coupons to be attached to coupon bonds of such series shall be established by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company and that the form of such series, as established by said Board of Directors, shall specify the descriptive title of the bonds and various other terms thereof, and may also contain such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Mortgage as the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, cause to be inserted therein expressing or referring to the terms and conditions upon which such bonds are to be issued and/or secured under the Mortgage; and

WHEREAS, Section 120 of the Mortgage provides, among other things, that any power, privilege or right expressly or impliedly reserved to or in any way conferred upon the Company by any provision of the Mortgage, whether such power, privilege or right is in any way restricted or is unrestricted, may be in whole or in part waived or surrendered or subjected to any restriction if at the time unrestricted or to additional restriction if already restricted, and the Company may enter into any further covenants, limitations or restrictions for the benefit of any one or more series of bonds issued thereunder, or the Company may cure any ambiguity contained therein or in any supplemental indenture, or may establish the terms and provisions of any series of bonds other than said First Series, by an instrument in writing executed and acknowledged by the Company in such manner as would be necessary to entitle a conveyance of real estate to record in all of the states in which any property at the time subject to the lien of the Mortgage shall be situated; and

WHEREAS, the Company now desires to create a new series of bonds, hereinafter referred to as bonds of the Seventy-second Series, unless the context otherwise requires, and (pursuant to the provisions of Section 120 of the Mortgage) to add to its covenants and agreements contained in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, certain other covenants and agreements to be observed by it and to alter and amend in certain respects the covenants and provisions contained in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented; and

WHEREAS, the execution and delivery by the Company of this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, and the terms of the bonds of the Seventy-second Series, have been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company by appropriate Resolutions of said Board of Directors.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

That the Company, in consideration of the premises and of One Dollar to it duly paid by the Trustees at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in further evidence of assurance of the estate, title and rights of the Trustees and in order further to secure the payment of both the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the bonds from time to time issued under the Mortgage, according to their tenor and effect and the performance of all the provisions of the Mortgage (including any instruments supplemental thereto and any modifications made as in the Mortgage provided) and of said bonds, hereby grants, bargains, sells, releases, conveys, assigns, transfers, mortgages, hypothecates, affects, pledges, sets over and confirms (subject, however, to Excepted Encumbrances as defined in Section 6 of the Mortgage) unto The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association (as to property, real or personal, situated or being i n Missouri) and Stanley Burg (but, as to property, real or personal, situated or being in Missouri, only to the extent of his legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustees under the Mortgage, and to their successor or successors in said trust, and to them and their successors and assigns forever, all property, real, personal or mixed, of any kind or nature acquired by the Company after the date of the execution and delivery of the Mortgage (except any herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted), now owned or, subject to the provisions of Section 87 of the Mortgage, hereafter acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) and wheresoever situated, including (without in anywise limiting or impairing by the enumeration of the same the scope and intent of the foregoing o r of any general description contained in this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture) all lands, power sites, flowage rights, water rights, water locations, water appropriations, ditches, flumes, reservoirs, reservoir sites, canals, raceways, dams, dam sites, aqueducts, and all other rights or means for appropriating, conveying, storing and supplying water; all rights of way and roads; all plants for the generation of electricity by steam, water and/or other power; all power houses, gas plants, street lighting systems, standards and other equipment incidental thereto; all street and interurban railway and transportation lines and systems, terminal systems and facilities; all bridges, culverts, tracks, railways, sidings, spurs, wyes, roadbeds, trestles and viaducts; all overground and underground trolleys and feeder wires; all telephone, radio and television systems, air-conditioning systems and equipment incidental thereto, water works, water systems, steam heat and hot water plants, substations, lines, service and supply systems, ice or refrigeration plants and equipment, offices, buildings and other structures and the equipment thereof, all machinery, engines, boilers, dynamos, electric, gas and other machines, regulators, meters, transformers, generators, motors, electrical, gas and mechanical appliances, conduits, cables, water, steam heat, gas or other pipes, gas mains and pipes, service pipes, fittings, valves and connections, pole and transmission lines, wires, cables, tools, implements, apparatus, furniture and chattels; all municipal and other franchises, consents or permits; all lines for the transmission and distribution of electric current, gas, steam heat or water for any purpose including towers, poles, wires, cables, pipes, conduits, ducts and all apparatus for use in connection therewith; all real estate, lands, easements, servitudes, licenses, permits, franchises, privileges, rights of way and other rights in or relating to real estate or the occupancy of the same and (except as herein or in the M ortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted) all the right, title and interest of the Company in and to all other property of any kind or nature appertaining to and/or used and/or occupied and/or enjoyed in connection with any property hereinbefore or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, described.

TOGETHER WITH all and singular the tenements, hereditaments, prescriptions, servitudes and appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining to the aforesaid property or any part thereof, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders and (subject to the provisions of Section 57 of the Mortgage) the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, product and profits thereof and all the estate, right, title and interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid property and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

IT IS HEREBY AGREED by the Company that, subject to the provisions of Section 87 of the Mortgage, all the property, rights and franchises acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) after the date hereof, except any herein or in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted, shall be and are as fully granted and conveyed hereby and by the Mortgage and as fully embraced within the lien hereof and the lien of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, as if such property, rights and franchises were now owned by the Company and were specifically described herein or in the Mortgage and conveyed hereby or thereby.

PROVIDED THAT the following are not and are not intended to be now or hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, hypothecated, affected, pledged, set over or confirmed hereunder and are hereby expressly excepted from the lien and operation of this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture and from the lien and operation of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, viz: (1) cash, shares of stock, bonds, notes and other obligations and other securities not hereafter specifically pledged, paid, deposited, delivered or held under the Mortgage or covenanted so to be; (2) merchandise, equipment, materials or supplies held for the purpose of sale in the usual course of business or for the purpose of repairing or replacing (in whole or in part) any street cars, rolling stock, trolley coaches, motor coaches, buses, automobiles or other vehicles or aircraft, and fuel, oil and similar materials and supplies consumable in the operation of any properties of the C ompany; street cars, rolling stock, trolley coaches, motor coaches, buses, automobiles and other vehicles and all aircraft; (3) bills, notes and accounts receivable, judgments, demands and choses in action, and all contracts, leases and operating agreements not specifically pledged under the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, or covenanted so to be; the Company's contractual rights or other interest in or with respect to tires not owned by the Company; (4) the last day of the term of any lease or leasehold which may hereafter become subject to the lien of the Mortgage; (5) electric energy, gas, ice, and other materials or products generated, manufactured, produced or purchased by the Company for sale, distribution or use in the ordinary course of its business; all timber, minerals, mineral rights and royalties; (6) the Company's franchise to be a corporation; (7) the properties heretofore sold or in the process of being sold by the Company and heretofore released from the Mortgage and Deed of Trust dated as of October 1, 1926 from Arkansas Power & Light Company to Guaranty Trust Company of New York, trustee, and specifically described in a release instrument executed by Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as trustee, dated October 13, 1938, which release has heretofore been delivered by the said trustee to the Company and recorded by the Company in the office of the Recorder for Garland County, Arkansas, in Record Book 227, Page 1, all of said properties being located in Garland County, Arkansas; and (8) any property heretofore released pursuant to any provisions of the Mortgage and not heretofore disposed of by the Company; provided, however, that the property and rights expressly excepted from the lien and operation of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, and this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture in the above subdivisions (2) and (3) shall (to the extent permitted by law) cease to be so excepted in the event and as of the date that any or all of the Trustees or a receiver or trustee shall enter upon and take possession of the Mortgaged and Pledged Property in the manner provided in Article XIII of the Mortgage by reason of the occurrence of a Default as defined in Section 65 thereof.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all such properties, real, personal and mixed, granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, hypothecated, affected, pledged, set over or confirmed by the Company as aforesaid, or intended so to be, unto The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association (as to property, real or personal, situated or being in Missouri), and unto Stanley Burg (but, as to property, real or personal, situated or being in Missouri, only to the extent of his legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) unto Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as Trustees, and their successors and assigns forever.

IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS, for the same purposes and upon the same terms, trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as are set forth in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture being supplemental to the Mortgage.

AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED by the Company that all the terms, conditions, provisos, covenants and provisions contained in the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, shall affect and apply to the property hereinbefore described and conveyed and to the estate, rights, obligations and duties of the Company and Trustees and the beneficiaries of the trust with respect to said property, and to the Trustees and their successors in the trust in the same manner and with the same effect as if said property had been owned by the Company at the time of the execution of the Mortgage, and had been specifically and at length described in and conveyed to said Trustees, by the Mortgage as a part of the property therein stated to be conveyed.

The Company further covenants and agrees to and with the Trustees and their successors in said trust under the Mortgage, as follows:

 ARTICLE I

SEVENTY-SECOND SERIES OF BONDS

    SECTIION I.  There shall be a series of bonds designated "4.50% Series due June 1, 2010" (herein sometimes called the "Seventy-second Series"), each of which shall also bear the descriptive title "First Mortgage Bond", and the form thereof, which shall be established by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, shall contain suitable provisions with respect to the matters hereinafter in this Section specified. Bonds of the Seventy-second Series (which shall be initially issued in the aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000) shall mature on June 1, 2010, shall be issued as fully registered bonds in the denomination of One Thousand Dollars and, at the option of the Company, in any multiple or multiples of One Thousand Dollars (the exercise of such option to be evidenced by the execution and delivery thereof), shall bear interest at the rate of 4.50% per annum, the first interest payment to be made on December 1, 2005, for the period from M ay 26, 2005 to December 1, 2005 with subsequent interest payments payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year (each an "Interest Payment Date"), shall be dated as in Section 10 of the Mortgage provided, and the principal of and interest on each said bond shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts.

Interest on the bonds of the Seventy-second Series will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, redemption date or maturity of any bond of the Seventy-second Series shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect, and in the same amount, as if made on the corresponding Interest Payment Date or redemption date, or at maturity, as the case may be, and, if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day, no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, redemption date or maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day. "Business Day" means any day, other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to rem ain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office of the Corporate Trustee is closed for business.

So long as all of the bonds of the Seventy-second Series are held by The Depository Trust Company or its nominee, or a successor thereof, the record date for the payment of interest on the bonds of the Seventy-second Series shall be the Business Day immediately preceding the corresponding Interest Payment Date; provided, however, that the record date for the payment of interest which is paid after such Interest Payment Date, shall be the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which such interest is paid. Interest on the bonds of the Seventy-second Series shall be paid to the Person in whose name such bonds of the Seventy-second Series are registered at the close of business on the record date for the corresponding Interest Payment Date.

    (I) Form of Bonds of the Seventy-second Series.

The Bonds of the Seventy-second Series, and the Corporate Trustee's authentication certificate to be executed on the Bonds of the Seventy-second Series, shall be in substantially the following forms, respectively:

[FORM OF FACE OF BOND OF THE SEVENTY-SECOND SERIES]

[depository legend]

Unless this Certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation ("DTC"), to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange, or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or to such other entity as is requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE, OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

(TEMPORARY REGISTERED BOND)

No. TR-1
$100,000,000                                                                                                                                                                 CUSIP 29364D AM 2

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
FIRST MORTGAGE BOND, 4.50% SERIES
DUE JUNE 1, 2010

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC., a corporation of the State of Arkansas (hereinafter called the Company), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO. or registered assigns, on June 1, 2010 at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,

ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS

in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts, and to pay to the registered owner hereof interest thereon from May 26, 2005, if the date of this bond is prior to December 1, 2005, or if the date of this bond is on or after December 1, 2005, from the June 1 or December 1 next preceding the date of this bond to which interest has been paid (unless the date hereof is an interest payment date to which interest has been paid, in which case from the date hereof), at the rate of 4.50% per annum in like coin or currency at said office or agency on June 1 and December 1 of each year, commencing December 1, 2005, until the principal of this bond shall have become due and payable, and to pay interest on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under the applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the rate of 6% per annum. So long as this bond is held by The Dep ository Trust Company or its nominee, or a successor thereof, the record date for the payment of interest hereon shall be the Business Day (as defined in the Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture referred to below) immediately preceding the date on which interest is due; provided, however, that the record date for the payment of interest which is paid after the date on which such interest is due, shall be the Business Day immediately preceding the date on which such interest is paid. Interest hereon shall be paid to the Person in whose name this bond is registered at the close of business on the record date for the payment of such interest. If any interest payment date for this bond falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of interest will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from and after such interest payment date. If the maturity date or any redemption date of this bond falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the payment of principal and interest (to the extent payable with respect to the principal being redeemed if on a redemption date) will be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and no interest on such payment shall accrue for the period from and after the maturity date or such redemption date.

This bond is a temporary bond and is one of an issue of bonds of the Company issuable in series and is one of a series known as its First Mortgage Bonds, 4.50% Series due June 1, 2010, all bonds of all series issued and to be issued under and equally secured (except insofar as any sinking or other fund, established in accordance with the provisions of the Mortgage hereinafter mentioned, may afford additional security for the bonds of any particular series) by a Mortgage and Deed of Trust (herein, together with any indenture supplemental thereto, including the Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 1, 2005, called the Mortgage), dated as of October 1, 1944, executed by the Company to Guaranty Trust Company of New York (Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, successor) and Henry A. Theis (Stanley Burg, successor) and, as to property, real or personal, situated or being in Missouri, Marvin A. Mueller (The Bank of New York Trust Company, National Association, successor), as Trustees . Reference is made to the Mortgage for a description of the property mortgaged and pledged, the nature and extent of the security, the rights of the holders of the bonds and of the Trustees in respect thereof, the duties and immunities of the Trustees and the terms and conditions upon which the bonds are and are to be secured and the circumstances under which additional bonds may be issued. With the consent of the Company and to the extent permitted by and as provided in the Mortgage, the rights and obligations of the Company and/or the rights of the holders of the bonds and/or coupons and/or the terms and provisions of the Mortgage may be modified or altered by such affirmative vote or votes of the holders of bonds then outstanding as are specified in the Mortgage.

The principal hereof may be declared or may become due prior to the maturity date hereinbefore named on the conditions, in the manner and at the time set forth in the Mortgage, upon the occurrence of a default as in the Mortgage provided.

In the manner prescribed in the Mortgage, this bond is transferable by the registered owner hereof in person, or by his duly authorized attorney, at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, upon surrender and cancellation of this bond, together with a written instrument of transfer duly executed by the registered owner or by his duly authorized attorney, and thereupon a new fully registered temporary or definitive bond of the same series for a like principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange herefor as provided in the Mortgage. The Company and the Trustees may deem and treat the person in whose name this bond is registered as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes and neither the Company nor the Trustees shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

In the manner prescribed in the Mortgage, any bonds of this series, upon surrender thereof for cancellation at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of bonds of the same series of other authorized denominations.

In the manner prescribed in the Mortgage, this temporary bond is exchangeable at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, without charge, for a definitive bond or bonds of the same series of a like aggregate principal amount when such definitive bonds are prepared and ready for delivery.

As provided in the Mortgage, the Company shall not be required to make transfers or exchanges of bonds of any series for a period of ten days next preceding any interest payment date for bonds of said series, or next preceding any designation of bonds of said series to be redeemed, and the Company shall not be required to make transfers or exchanges of any bonds designated in whole or in part for redemption.

The bonds of this series are subject to redemption as provided in the Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or interest on this bond against any incorporator or any past, present or future subscriber to the capital stock, stockholder, officer or director of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, as such, either directly or through the Company or any predecessor or successor corporation, under any rule of law, statute or constitution or by the enforcement of any assessment or otherwise, all such liability of incorporators, subscribers, stockholders, officers and directors being released by the holder or owner hereof by the acceptance of this bond and being likewise waived and released by the terms of the Mortgage.

This bond shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

This bond shall not become obligatory until Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, the Corporate Trustee under the Mortgage, or its successor thereunder, shall have signed the form of authentication certificate endorsed hereon.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC. has caused this bond to be signed in its corporate name by its President or one of its Vice Presidents by his signature or a facsimile thereof, and its corporate seal to be impressed or imprinted hereon and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries, by his signature or a facsimile thereof, on May 26, 2005.

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.

By_____________________________
Steven C. McNeal
Vice President and Treasurer

Attest:

___________________________
Christopher T. Screen
Assistant Secretary

CORPORATE TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE

This bond is one of the bonds, of the series herein designated, described or provided for in the within-mentioned Mortgage.

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
 

as Corporate Trustee

By ___________________________
Authorized Officer

(II)     The bonds of the Seventy-second Series shall be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, on not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days notice prior to the date fixed for redemption, at any time prior to maturity of the bonds of the Seventy-second Series, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount of such bonds of the Seventy-second Series being redeemed and (b) as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on such bonds of the Seventy-second Series being redeemed (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to the redemption date), discounted (for purposes of determining such present values) to such redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 0.25%, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to such redemption date.

As used herein, the following defined terms shall have the respective meanings specified unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

The term "Adjusted Treasury Rate" shall mean, with respect to any redemption date:

        (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after June 1, 2010, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month); or

        (2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date for the Adjusted Treasury Rate or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

The Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

The term "Comparable Treasury Issue" shall mean the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to June 1, 2010 that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to June 1, 2010.

The term "Comparable Treasury Price" shall mean, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations or (ii) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

The term "Independent Investment Banker" shall mean one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that the Company appoints to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time, or, if any of such firms is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

The term "Reference Treasury Dealer" shall mean (i) BNY Capital Markets, Inc. and KeyBanc Capital Markets, a Division of McDonald Investments Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with the Company.

The term "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" shall mean, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

 (III)     At the option of the registered owner, any bonds of the Seventy-second Series, upon surrender thereof for cancellation at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, shall be exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of bonds of the same series of other authorized denominations.

Bonds of the Seventy-second Series shall be transferable, upon the surrender thereof for cancellation, together with a written instrument of transfer in form approved by the registrar duly executed by the registered owner or by his duly authorized attorney, at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.

Upon any exchange or transfer of bonds of the Seventy-second Series, the Company may make a charge therefor sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or taxes or other governmental charge, as provided in Section 12 of the Mortgage, but the Company hereby waives any right to make a charge in addition thereto for any exchange or transfer of bonds of said Series.

Upon the delivery of this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture and upon compliance with the applicable provisions of the Mortgage, as heretofore supplemented, there shall be an initial issue of bonds of the Seventy-second Series for the aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000.

ARTICLE II

DIVIDEND COVENANT

    SECTION 2.    The Company covenants that, so long as any of the bonds of the Seventy-second Series are Outstanding, it will not declare any dividends on its Common Stock (other than (a) a dividend payable solely in shares of its Common Stock, or (b) a dividend payable in cash in cases where, concurrently with the payment of such dividend, an amount in cash equal to such dividend is received by the Company as a capital contribution or as the proceeds of the issue and sale of shares of its Common Stock) or make any distribution on outstanding shares of its Common Stock or purchase or otherwise acquire for value any outstanding shares of its Common Stock (otherwise than in exchange for or out of the proceeds from the sale of other shares of its Common Stock) if, after such dividend, distribution, purchase or acquisition, the aggregate amount of such dividends, distributions, purchases and acquisitions paid or made subsequent to April 30, 2005 (other than any dividend declare d by the Company on or before April 30, 2005) exceeds (without giving effect to (i) any of such dividends, distributions, purchases or acquisitions, or (ii) any net transfers from retained earnings to stated capital accounts) the sum of (a) the aggregate amount credited subsequent to April 30, 2005 to retained earnings, (b) $350,000,000 and (c) such additional amount as shall be authorized or approved, upon application by the Company, by the Securities and Exchange Commission, or by any successor commission thereto, under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935.

For the purposes of this Section 2 the aggregate amount credited subsequent to April 30, 2005 to retained earnings shall be determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and practices after making provision for dividends upon any preferred stock of the Company, accumulated subsequent to such date, but in such determination there shall not be considered charges to retained earnings applicable to the period prior to April 30, 2005, including, but not limited to, charges to retained earnings for write-offs or write-downs of book values of assets owned by the Company on April 30, 2005.

ARTICLE III

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

    SECTION 3.    The holders of the bonds of the Seventy-second Series shall be deemed to have consented and agreed that the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of the bonds of the Seventy-second Series entitled to consent to any amendment or supplement to the Mortgage or the waiver of any provision thereof or any act to be performed thereunder. If a record date is fixed, those persons who were holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.

    SECTION 4.    Subject to the amendments provided for in this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, the terms defined in the Mortgage and the First through Sixty-fourth Supplemental Indentures shall, for all purposes of this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, have the meanings specified in the Mortgage and the First through Sixty-fourth Supplemental Indentures.

    SECTION 5.    The Trustees hereby accept the trusts herein declared, provided, created or supplemented and agree to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein and in the Mortgage and in the First through Sixty-fourth Supplemental Indentures set forth and upon the following terms and conditions:

The Trustees shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made by the Company solely. In general each and every term and condition contained in Article XVII of the Mortgage, as heretofore amended, shall apply to and form part of this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture with the same force and effect as if the same were herein set forth in full with such omissions, variations and insertions, if any, as may be appropriate to make the same conform to the provisions of this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture.

    SECTION 6.    Whenever in this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture either of the parties hereto is named or referred to, this shall, subject to the provisions of Articles XVI and XVII of the Mortgage, as heretofore amended, be deemed to include the successors and assigns of such party, and all the covenants and agreements in this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company, or by or on behalf of the Trustees, or any of them, shall, subject as aforesaid, bind and inure to the respective benefits of the respective successors and assigns of such parties, whether so expressed or not.

    SECTION 7.    Nothing in this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture, expressed or implied, is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or give to, any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the bonds and coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage, any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all the covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises or agreements in this Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture contained by or on behalf of the Company shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto, and of the holders of the bonds and of the coupons Outstanding under the Mortgage.

    SECTION 8.    This Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

    SECTION 9.    This Sixty-fifth Supplemental Indenture shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC. has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by its President or one of its Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries for and in its behalf, and DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by, one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by one of its Associates for and in its behalf, and STANLEY BURG has hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by one of its Vice Presidents or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by one of its Assistant Secretaries or one of its Assistant Treasurers or one of its Assistant Vice Presidents for and in its behalf, as of the day and year first above written.

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.

By: /s/ Steven C. McNeal
Steven C. McNeal
Vice President and Treasurer

Attest:

/s/ Christopher T. Screen
Christopher T. Screen
Assistant Secretary

Executed, sealed and delivered by
ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
in the presence of:

/s/ Christina M. Edwards
Christina M. Edwards

/s/ Shannon K. Ryerson
Shannon K. Ryerson

 

DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS,
As Corporate Trustee

By: /s/ Susan Johnson
Susan Johnson
Vice President

Attest:

/s/ Irina Golovashchuk
Irina Golovashchuk
Associate

STANLEY BURG,
As Co-Trustee

/s/ Stanley Burg_________________[L.S.]

Executed, sealed and delivered by
DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS and STANLEY BURG
in the presence of:

/s/ Yana Kalachikova
Yana Kalachikova

 

/s/ Victor Carneiro
Victor Carneiro

THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST
COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
As Co-Trustee as to property, real or
personal, situated or being in Missouri

By: /s/ Cynthia M. Moore
     Cynthia M. Moore
    Vice President

 

Attest:

/s/ Elizabeth Dean
Elizabeth Dean
Vice President

Executed, sealed and delivered by
THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
in the presence of:

/s/ Robert D. Smith
Robert D. Smith

/s/ Paula Starr
Paula Starr

STATE OF LOUISIANA )
                                         ) SS.:
PARISH OF ORLEANS )

On this 24th day of May, 2005, before me, Jennifer Favalora, a Notary Public duly commissioned, qualified and acting within and for said Parish and State, appeared in person the within named Steven C. McNeal and Christopher T. Screen, to me personally well known, who stated that they were the Vice President and Treasurer and Assistant Secretary, respectively, of ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC., a corporation, and were duly authorized in their respective capacities to execute the foregoing instrument for and in the name and behalf of said corporation, and further stated and acknowledged that they had so signed, executed and delivered said foregoing instrument for the consideration, uses and purposes therein mentioned and set forth.

On the 24th day of May, 2005, before me personally came Steven C. McNeal, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at 7903 Winner's Circle, Mandeville, Louisiana 70448; that he is the Vice President and Treasurer of ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC., one of the corporations described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like order.

On the 24th day of May, 2005, before me appeared Christopher T. Screen, to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did say that he is the Assistant Secretary of ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC., and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument was signed and sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors, and he acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal at my office in said Parish and State the day and year last above written.

/s/ Jennifer Favalora
Jennifer Favalora
Notary Public
Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana
My Commission is Issued For Life
Notary Identification Number 57639

STATE OF New York      )
                                         ) SS.:
COUNTY OF New York )

On this 24th day of May, 2005, before me, Boris Treyger, a Notary Public duly commissioned, qualified and acting within and for said County and State, appeared Susan Johnson and Irina Golovashchuk, to me personally well known, who stated that they were a Vice President and an Associate, respectively, of DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, a corporation, and were duly authorized in their respective capacities to execute the foregoing instrument for and in the name and behalf of said corporation; and further stated and acknowledged that they had so signed, executed and delivered said foregoing instrument for the consideration, uses and purposes therein mentioned and set forth.

On the 24th day of May, 2005, before me personally came Susan Johnson, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that she resides at 153 E 46th Stree, Brooklyn, NY 11203; that she is a Vice President of DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, one of the corporations described in and which executed the above instrument; that she knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that she signed her name thereto by like authority.

On the 24th day of May, 2005, before me appeared Irina Golovashchuk, to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did say that she is an Associate of DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation, and that said instrument was signed and sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors, and she acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal at my office in said County and State the day and year last above written.

 

Boris Treyger
Notary Public, State of New York
No 01TR6016003

/s/ Boris Treyger
Qualified in Kings County
Commission Expires 12/30,2006

STATE OF New York         )
                                            ) SS.:
COUNTY OF New York   )

On this 24th day of May, 2005, before me, Boris Treyger, the undersigned, personally appeared, STANLEY BURG, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same for the purposes therein contained.

On the 24th day of May, 2005, before me personally appeared STANLEY BURG, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand and official seal.

Boris Treyger
Notary Public, State of New York
No 01TR6016003

/s/ Boris Treyger
Qualified in Kings County
Commission Expires 12/30, 2006

STATE OF FLORIDA  )
                                      ) SS.:
COUNTY OF DUVAL )

On this 24TH day of May, 2005, before me, Lillie C. Mariano, a Notary Public duly commissioned, qualified and acting within and for said county and state, appeared Cynthia M. Moore and Elizabeth Dean, to me personally known, who stated that they were a Vice President and Vice President, respectively, of THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a National Association, and were duly authorized in their respective capacities to execute the foregoing instrument for and in the name and on behalf of said Company; and further stated that they had so signed, executed and delivered the same for the consideration, uses and purposes therein mentioned and set forth.

On the 24th day of May, 2005, before me personally appeared Robert D. Smith, to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resided in Jacksonville, Florida; that he is an Assistant Treasurer of THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, one of the companies described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the seal of said National Association; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such seal; that it was so affixed by authority of its Board of Directors, and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.

On the 24th day of May, 2005, before me appeared Paula Starr, to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did say that she is an Assistant Treasurer of THE BANK OF NEW YORK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, and that the seal affixed to the foregoing instrument is the seal of said National Association, and that said instrument was signed and sealed in behalf of said National Association by authority of its Board of Directors, and she acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said entity.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal at my office in said County and State the day and year last above written.

/s/ Lillie C. Mariano
Lillie C. Mariano
Notary Public, State of Florida
Qualified in Duval County
Commission Expires 09/29/08

Lillie C. Mariano
My Commission DD348019
Expires September 29, 2008

EX-4 3 a4d.txt Exhibit 4(d) U.S. $2,000,000,000 CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of May 25, 2005 Among ENTERGY CORPORATION as Borrower THE BANKS NAMED HEREIN as Banks CITIBANK, N.A. as Administrative Agent and LC Issuing Bank and ABN AMRO BANK N.V. as LC Issuing Bank CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. Sole Lead Arranger & Book Manager ABN AMRO N.V. BNP PARIBAS JPMORGAN CHASE BANK and THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC Co-Syndication Agents TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS 1 SECTION 1.01. CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS. 1 SECTION 1.02. COMPUTATION OF TIME PERIODS. 11 SECTION 1.03. ACCOUNTING TERMS. 11 ARTICLE II AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES 11 SECTION 2.01. THE ADVANCES. 11 SECTION 2.02. MAKING THE ADVANCES. 12 SECTION 2.03. LETTERS OF CREDIT. 13 SECTION 2.04. FEES. 16 SECTION 2.05. ADJUSTMENT OF THE COMMITMENTS. 17 SECTION 2.06. REPAYMENT OF ADVANCES. 18 SECTION 2.07. INTEREST ON ADVANCES. 18 SECTION 2.08. ADDITIONAL INTEREST ON EURODOLLAR RATE ADVANCES. 19 SECTION 2.09. INTEREST RATE DETERMINATION. 19 SECTION 2.10. CONVERSION OF ADVANCES. 20 SECTION 2.11. PREPAYMENTS. 21 SECTION 2.12. INCREASED COSTS. 21 SECTION 2.13. ILLEGALITY. 22 SECTION 2.14. PAYMENTS AND COMPUTATIONS. 22 SECTION 2.15. TAXES. 23 SECTION 2.16. SHARING OF PAYMENTS, ETC. 25 SECTION 2.17. NOTELESS AGREEMENT; EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS. 26 SECTION 2.18. EXTENSION OF TERMINATION DATE. 27 ARTICLE III CONDITIONS OF EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT 28 SECTION 3.01. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO INITIAL EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT. 28 SECTION 3.02. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EACH EXTENSION OF CREDIT. 29 SECTION 3.03. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT AFTER JUNE 30, 2007. 30 ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES 31 SECTION 4.01. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BORROWER. 31 ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER 33 SECTION 5.01. AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS. 33 SECTION 5.02. NEGATIVE COVENANTS. 36 ARTICLE VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES 37 SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. 37 SECTION 6.02. REMEDIES. 39 SECTION 6.03. CASH COLLATERAL ACCOUNT. 39 ARTICLE VII THE AGENT 40 SECTION 7.01. AUTHORIZATION AND ACTION. 40 SECTION 7.02. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT'S RELIANCE, ETC. 40 SECTION 7.03. CITIBANK AND AFFILIATES. 41 SECTION 7.04. LENDER CREDIT DECISION. 41 SECTION 7.05. INDEMNIFICATION. 41 SECTION 7.06. SUCCESSOR ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT. 42 ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS 42 SECTION 8.01. AMENDMENTS, ETC. 42 SECTION 8.02. NOTICES, ETC. 43 SECTION 8.03. NO WAIVER; REMEDIES. 43 SECTION 8.04. COSTS AND EXPENSES; INDEMNIFICATION. 43 SECTION 8.05. RIGHT OF SET-OFF. 45 SECTION 8.06. BINDING EFFECT. 45 SECTION 8.07. ASSIGNMENTS AND PARTICIPATIONS. 45 SECTION 8.08. GOVERNING LAW. 50 SECTION 8.09. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. 50 SECTION 8.10. EXECUTION IN COUNTERPARTS. 50 SECTION 8.11. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. 50 SCHEDULES Schedule I - List of Applicable Lending Offices Schedule II - Commitment Schedule Schedule 2.03(h) - Letters of Credit EXHIBITS Exhibit A-1 - Form of Notice of Borrowing Exhibit A-2 - Form of Notice of Conversion Exhibit A-3 - Form of Request for Issuance Exhibit B - Form of Assignment and Acceptance Exhibit C - Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Borrower Exhibit D - Form of Opinion of Special New York Counsel to the Administrative Agent CREDIT AGREEMENT Dated as of May 25, 2005 ENTERGY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the banks (the "Banks") listed on the signature pages hereof and Citibank, N.A. ("Citibank"), as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the Lenders hereunder and as LC Issuing Bank (as defined below), ABN AMRO Bank N.V., as LC Issuing Bank, and the other LC Issuing Banks party hereto from time to time, agree as follows: ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS SECTION 1.01. Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined): "Additional Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i). "Advance" means an advance by a Lender to the Borrower as part of a Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance, each of which shall be a "Type" of Advance. "Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person. "Agreement" means this Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time. "Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender's Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender's Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance "Applicable Margin" means, (i) for any Base Rate Advance, the Base Rate Margin interest rate per annum set forth below in the columns identified as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6, and (ii) for any Eurodollar Rate Advance, (A) on any date the Utilization Percentage equals or is less than 50%, the Eurodollar Margin interest rate per annum set forth below in the columns identified as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6 and (B) on any date the Utilization Percentage exceeds 50%, the Utilized Eurodollar Margin interest rate per annum set forth below in the columns identified as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6, in each case, determined by reference to the Relevant Ratings. Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 _________________________________________________________________________ S&P Relevant Relevant Relevant Relevant Relevant Relevant Ratings Ratings Ratings Ratings Ratings Ratings Moody's at least Less than Less than Less than Less than below A+ or A1 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 BBB* but at but least but at but at and least at least least least BBB Baa2* A or A2 A- or A3 BBB+ or Baa2 or Baa1 _________________________________________________________________________ Interest Rate Per Annum _________________________________________________________________________ Eurodollar 0.210% 0.300% 0.350% 0.475% 0.575% 0.800% Margin _________________________________________________________________________ Base Rate 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.500% Margin _________________________________________________________________________ Utilized 0.310% 0.400% 0.475% 0.600% 0.700% 0.925% Eurodollar Margin _________________________________________________________________________ *or unrated Any change in the Applicable Margin will be effective as of the date on which S&P or Moody's, as the case may be, announces the applicable change in any Senior Debt Rating. "Approved Fund" means, with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans, any other fund that invests in commercial loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor. "Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee of that Lender, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto. "Base Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the higher of: (i) the rate of interest announced publicly by Citibank in New York, New York, from time to time, as Citibank's base rate; and (ii) 1/2 of 1% per annum above the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time. "Base Rate Advance" means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(a). "Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 or Converted pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.10. "Business Day" means a day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized to close in New York City and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market. "Capitalization" means, as of any date of determination, with respect to the Borrower and its subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the total principal amount of all Debt of the Borrower and its subsidiaries outstanding on such date, (ii) Consolidated Net Worth as of such date and (iii) to the extent not otherwise included in Capitalization, all preferred stock and other preferred securities of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, including preferred securities issued by any subsidiary trust, outstanding on such date. "Cash Collateral Account" has the meaning assigned to that term in Section 6.03. "Commitment" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01. "Commitment Increase" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i). "Common Equity" shall mean the stock, shares or other ownership interests in the issuer thereof howsoever evidenced (including, without limitation, limited liability company membership interests) that has ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managers or trustees (or other persons performing similar functions) of the issuer, as applicable, provided that Preferred Equity, even if it has such ordinary voting power, shall not be Common Equity. "Consolidated Net Worth" means the sum of the capital stock (excluding treasury stock and capital stock subscribed for and unissued) and surplus (including earned surplus, capital surplus and the balance of the current profit and loss account not transferred to surplus) accounts of the Borrower and its subsidiaries appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries prepared as of the date of determination in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e), after eliminating all intercompany transactions and all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of subsidiaries. "Convert", "Conversion" and "Converted" each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of another Type or the selection of a new, or the renewal of the same, Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Advances pursuant to Section 2.09 or 2.10. "Debt" of any Person means (without duplication) all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness (whether contingent or otherwise) of such Person (i) for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar instruments, (ii) to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than such obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business on customary trade terms, provided that such obligations are not more than 30 days past due), (iii) as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, recorded as capital leases, (iv) under reimbursement agreements or similar agreements with respect to the issuance of letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of letters of credit opened to provide for the payment of goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business), (v) under any Guaranty Obligations and (vi) liabilities in respect of unfunded vested benefits under plans covered by Title IV of ERISA. "Domestic Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Domestic Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. "Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary" means a direct or indirect domestic subsidiary of the Company engaged in generation, transmission or distribution of electricity or the transmission or distribution of natural gas that is regulated as to rates on a cost of service basis by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (or successor agency) or a state or local governmental body. "Eligible Assignee" means a Person (i) (A) that is (1) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000; (2) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of the OECD, or a political subdivision of any such country, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000, provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States or another country which is also a member of OECD; or (3) a Lender, a financial institution Affiliate of any Lender or an Approved Fund of any Lender immediately prior to an assignment and (B) whose long-term public senior debt securities are rated at least "BBB-" by S&P or at least "Baa3" by Moody's; or (ii) that is approved by the Borrower (whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld), the LC Issuing Banks and the Administrative Agent. "Entergy Arkansas" means Entergy Arkansas, Inc., an Arkansas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns. "Entergy Gulf States" means Entergy Gulf States, Inc., a Texas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns. "Entergy Louisiana" means Entergy Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns. "Entergy Mississippi" means Entergy Mississippi, Inc., a Mississippi corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns. "Entergy New Orleans" means Entergy New Orleans, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns. "Environmental Laws" means any federal, state or local laws, ordinances or codes, rules, orders, or regulations relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to hazardous substances, laws relating to reclamation of land and waterways and laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata) or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollution, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes. "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder, each as amended and modified from time to time. "ERISA Affiliate" of a Person or entity means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is a member of a group of which such Person or entity is a member and that is under common control with such Person or entity within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time. "ERISA Plan" means an employee benefit plan maintained for employees of any Person or any ERISA Affiliate of such Person subject to Title IV of ERISA. "ERISA Termination Event" means (i) a Reportable Event described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder (other than a Reportable Event not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to PBGC), or (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from an ERISA Plan during a plan year in which the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates was a "substantial employer" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (iii) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate an ERISA Plan or the treatment of an ERISA Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, or (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate an ERISA Plan by the PBGC or to appoint a trustee to administer any ERISA Plan, or (v) any other event or condition that would constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer any ERISA Plan. "Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time. "Eurodollar Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Eurodollar Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. "Eurodollar Rate" means, for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the same Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered by the principal office of each of the Reference Banks in London, England, to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially equal to such Reference Bank's Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of such Borrowing and for a period equal to such Interest Period. The Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the same Borrowing shall be determined by the Administrative Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the Administrative Agent from the Reference Banks two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.09. "Eurodollar Rate Advance" means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.07(b). "Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage" of any Lender for the Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advance means the reserve percentage applicable during such Interest Period (or if more than one such percentage shall be so applicable, the daily average of such percentages for those days in such Interest Period during which any such percentage shall be so applicable) under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for such Lender with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to such Interest Period. "Events of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01. "Existing Credit Agreements" means (i) the three-year Credit Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2004, among the Borrower, certain banks, Citibank, as agent for such banks, and the letter of credit issuing banks named therein and (ii) the five-year Credit Agreement, dated as of December 14, 2004, among the Borrower, certain banks, Citibank, N.A., as agent for such banks, and the letter of credit issuing banks named therein. "Extension of Credit" means (i) the disbursement of the proceeds of any Borrowing and (ii) the issuance of a Letter of Credit or the amendment of any Letter of Credit having the effect of extending the stated termination date thereof or increasing the maximum amount available to be drawn thereunder. "Extension Notice Date" has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(a). "Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it. "Fee Letter" means that certain letter agreement, dated as of April 15, 2005, between the Borrower and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as amended, modified and supplemented from time to time. "Granting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(i). "Guaranty Obligations" means (i) direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, Debt of any Person and (ii) other guaranty or similar obligations in respect of the financial obligations of others, including, without limitation, Support Obligations. "Increasing Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 2.05(b)(i). "Interest Period" means, for each Advance made as part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Advance into such an Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be 1, 2, 3 or 6 months (or any period of less than one month that ends on the then- scheduled Termination Date with respect to the Commitment of the Lender making such Advance in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however, that: (i) the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the then-scheduled Termination Date with respect to the Commitment of the Lender making such Advance; (ii) Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Advances made as part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration;and (iii) whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, in the case of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Advance, that if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day. "Junior Subordinated Debentures" means any junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures issued by any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans from time to time. "LC Fee" is defined in Section 2.04(b). "LC Issuing Bank" means Citibank, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and one or more other Lenders or Affiliates thereof that may be appointed from time to time by the Borrower to issue Letters of Credit under this Agreement and that are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and "LC Issuing Banks" shall mean the LC Issuing Banks collectively. "LC Outstandings" means, on any date of determination, the sum of the undrawn stated amounts of all Letters of Credit that are outstanding on such date plus the aggregate principal amount of all unpaid reimbursement obligations of the Borrower on such date with respect to payments made by the LC Issuing Banks under Letters of Credit. "LC Payment Notice" is defined in Section 2.03(d). "Lenders" means the Banks listed on the signature pages hereof and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07. "Letter of Credit" means letters of credit issued by an LC Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.03. "Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person or any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to own, subject to a Lien, any asset that it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset. "Majority Lenders" means at any time Lenders to which are owed more than 50% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances and participation obligations with respect to the LC Outstandings, or, if there are no Outstanding Credits, Lenders having more than 50% of the Commitments (without giving effect to any termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 6.02), provided, that for purposes hereof, neither the Borrower, nor any of its Affiliates, if a Lender, shall be included in (i) the Lenders holding such amount of the Advances or participation obligations with respect to the LC Outstandings or having such amount of the Commitments or (ii) determining the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances or participation obligations with respect to the LC Outstandings or the total Commitments. "Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto. "Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding three plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions. "Net Available Cash" from a Stock Disposition means cash payments received therefrom net of all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under generally accepted accounting principles, as a result of such Stock Disposition. "New SEC Order" means the order or orders of the SEC under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 authorizing the Borrower to obtain Extensions of Credit and to perform its obligations under this Agreement after June 30, 2007. "Non-Consenting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 2.18(d). "Non-Recourse Debt" means any Debt of any subsidiary of the Borrower that does not constitute Debt of the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans. "Notice of Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a). "OECD" means the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. "Outstanding Credits" means, on any date of determination, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate principal amount of all Borrowings outstanding on such date plus (ii) the LC Outstandings on such date, in each case, after giving effect to all repayments and prepayments of Advances and Reimbursement Amounts and all reductions in the LC Outstandings on such date. "PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA. "Percentage" means, for any Lender on any date of determination, the percentage obtained by dividing such Lender's Commitment on such day by the total of the Commitments on such date, and multiplying the quotient so obtained by 100%. "Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof. "Preferred Equity" shall mean any stock, shares or other ownership interests in the issuer thereof howsoever evidenced (including, without limitation, limited liability company membership interests), whether with or without voting rights, that is entitled to dividends or distributions prior to the payment of dividends or distributions with respect to Common Equity. "Prepayment Event" means the occurrence of any event or the existence of any condition under any agreement or instrument relating to any Debt of a Significant Subsidiary that is outstanding in a principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate, which occurrence or event results in the declaration of such Debt being due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof. "Reference Banks" means Citibank, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., BNP Paribas, JPMorgan Chase Bank and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc. "Register" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(c). "Reimbursement Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 2.03(c). "Relevant Ratings" means the Senior Debt Ratings of Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana or Entergy Mississippi assigned by Moody's and S&P that constitute the second lowest Senior Debt Ratings of all such Persons assigned by Moody's and S&P. "Reportable Event" has the meaning assigned to that term in Title IV of ERISA. "Request for Issuance" means a request made pursuant to Section 2.03(a) in the form of Exhibit A-3. "S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto. "SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. "SEC Order" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a)(iii). "Senior Debt Rating" means, as to any Person, the rating assigned by Moody's or S&P to the senior secured long- term debt of such Person. "SERI" means Systems Energy Resources, Inc., an Arkansas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns. "Significant Subsidiary" means Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, SERI and any other Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary of the Borrower: (i) the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of which exceed 5% of the total assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries or (ii) the net worth of which exceeds 5% of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, in each case as shown on the most recent audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries. In no event shall "Significant Subsidiary" include any Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary that as of March 31, 2005, (i) had total assets (after intercompany eliminations) that were 5% or less of the total assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of such date or (ii) had a net worth that was 5% or less of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of such date. "SPC" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(i). "Stock Disposition" means, with respect to any Person, the issuance, sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any Common Equity (or stock or other instruments convertible into Common Equity) of such Person. "Support Obligations" means any financial obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person guaranteeing or otherwise supporting any Debt or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Debt, (ii) to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Debt of the payment of such Debt, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital, available cash or other financial statement condition of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt, (iv) to provide equity capital under or in respect of equity subscription arrangements so as to assure any Person with respect to the payment of such Debt or the performance of such obligation, or (v) to provide financial support for the performance of, or to arrange for the performance of, any non-monetary obligations or non-funded debt payment obligations (including, without limitation, guaranties of payments under power purchase or other similar arrangements) of the primary obligor. "Termination Date" means the earlier to occur of (i) May 25, 2010, or, as to any Lender, such later date that may be established for such Lender pursuant to Section 2.18, and (ii) date of termination in whole of the Commitments and each LC Issuing Bank's obligation to issue Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.05 or Section 6.02 hereof. "Utilization Percentage" means, as of any time for the determination thereof, the percentage obtained by dividing the aggregate Outstanding Credits by the aggregate Commitments then in effect. SECTION 1.02. Computation of Time Periods. In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words "to" and "until" each means "to but excluding". SECTION 1.03. Accounting Terms. All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) hereof. ARTICLE II AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES SECTION 2.01. The Advances. Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Advances to the Borrower and to participate in the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower in respect of Letters of Credit from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the date hereof until the Termination Date with respect to the Commitment of such Lender in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount set opposite such Lender's name on Schedule II hereto or, if such Lender has entered into any Assignment and Acceptance, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c), as such amount may be reduced pursuant to Section 2.05(a) or increased pursuant to Section 2.05(b) (such Lender's "Commitment"). Each Borrowing shall be in an amount not less than $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall consist of Advances of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, having the same Interest Period made or Converted on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments. Within the limits of each Lender's Commitment, the Borrower may from time to time borrow, prepay pursuant to Section 2.11 and reborrow under this Section 2.01; provided, however, that at no time may the Outstanding Credits exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments. SECTION 2.02. Making the Advances. (a) Each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given (i) in the case of a Borrowing comprising Eurodollar Rate Advances, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing, and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing comprising Base Rate Advances, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Borrowing, by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof. Each such notice of a Borrowing (a "Notice of Borrowing") shall be transmitted by telecopier, telex or cable, confirmed immediately in writing, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, specifying therein the requested (A) date of such Borrowing, (B) Type of Advances to be made in connection with such Borrowing, (C) aggregate amount of such Borrowing, and (D) in the case of a Borrowing comprising Eurodollar Rate Advances, initial Interest Period for each such Advance. Each Lender shall, before (x) 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date of any Borrowing comprising Eurodollar Rate Advances, and (y) 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of any Borrowing comprising Base Rate Advances, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 8.02, in same day funds, such Lender's ratable portion of such Borrowing. After the Administrative Agent's receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the Administrative Agent's aforesaid address. (b) Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Notice of Borrowing requesting Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss, cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date. (c) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower (following the Administrative Agent's demand on such Lender for the corresponding amount) severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available to the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to Advances made in connection with such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender's Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement. (d) The failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing. SECTION 2.03. Letters of Credit. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, each LC Issuing Bank agrees to issue Letters of Credit from time to time for the account of the Borrower (or the stated maturity thereof extended or terms thereof modified or amended) on not less than two Business Days' prior notice thereof by delivery of a Request for Issuance to the Administrative Agent (which shall promptly distribute copies thereof to the Lenders) and the applicable LC Issuing Bank. Each Request for Issuance shall specify (i) the date (which shall be a Business Day) of issuance of such Letter of Credit (or the date of effectiveness of such extension, modification or amendment) and the stated expiry date thereof (which shall be no later than five Business Days prior to the then-scheduled Termination Date), (ii) the proposed stated amount of such Letter of Credit (which shall not be less than $100,000), (iii) the name and address of the beneficiary of such Letter of Credit and (iv) a statement of drawing conditions applicable to such Letter of Credit, and if such Request for Issuance relates to an amendment or modification of a Letter of Credit, it shall be accompanied by the consent of the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit thereto. Each Request for Issuance shall be irrevocable unless modified or rescinded by the Borrower not less than one day prior to the proposed date of issuance (or effectiveness) specified therein. Not later than 12:00 noon on the proposed date of issuance (or effectiveness) specified in such Request for Issuance, and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions precedent and the other requirements set forth herein, the applicable LC Issuing Bank shall issue (or extend, amend or modify) such Letter of Credit and provide notice and a copy thereof to the Administrative Agent, which shall promptly furnish copies thereof to the Lenders. (b) No Letter of Credit shall be requested or issued hereunder if, after the issuance thereof, the Outstanding Credits would exceed the total Commitments scheduled to be in effect until the Termination Date. The Borrower will not request, and no LC Issuing Bank will issue a Letter of Credit, if after the issuance thereof, the LC Outstandings of such LC Issuing Bank would exceed $2,000,000,000. (c) The Borrower hereby agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable LC Issuing Bank and, if they shall have purchased participations in the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower pursuant to subsection (d) below, the Lenders, on demand made by the applicable LC Issuing Bank to the Borrower, on and after each date on which the applicable LC Issuing Bank shall pay any amount under any Letter of Credit issued by such LC Issuing Bank, a sum equal to the amount so paid (the "Reimbursement Amount") plus interest on the Reimbursement Amount from the date so paid by such LC Issuing Bank until repayment to such LC Issuing Bank in full at a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal to the interest rate applicable to Base Rate Advances plus, if any amount paid by such LC Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit is not reimbursed by the Borrower within three Business Days, 2%. The Borrower may satisfy its obligation hereunder to repay the Reimbursement Amount by requesting a Borrowing under Section 2.02 in the amount of such Reimbursement Amount, and the proceeds of such Borrowing may be applied to satisfy the Borrower's obligations to the applicable LC Issuing Bank or the Lenders, as the case may be. (d) If any LC Issuing Bank shall not have been reimbursed in full for any payment made by such LC Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit issued by such LC Issuing Bank on the date of such payment, such LC Issuing Bank shall give the Administrative Agent and each Lender prompt notice thereof (an "LC Payment Notice") no later than 12:00 noon on the Business Day immediately succeeding the date of such payment by such LC Issuing Bank. Each Lender severally agrees to purchase a participation in the reimbursement obligation of the Borrower to each LC Issuing Bank by paying to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable LC Issuing Bank an amount equal to such Lender's Percentage of such unreimbursed amount paid by such LC Issuing Bank, plus interest on such amount at a rate per annum equal to the Federal Funds Rate from the date of the payment by the applicable LC Issuing Bank to the date of payment to such LC Issuing Bank by such Lender. Each such payment by a Lender shall be made not later than 3:00 P.M. on the later to occur of (i) the Business Day immediately following the date of such payment by the applicable LC Issuing Bank and (ii) the Business Day on which such Lender shall have received an LC Payment Notice from the applicable LC Issuing Bank. Each Lender's obligation to make each such payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of any LC Issuing Bank shall be several and shall not be affected by the occurrence or continuance of an Event of Default or the failure of any other Lender to make any payment under this Section 2.03(d). Each Lender further agrees that each such payment shall be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever. (e) The failure of any Lender to make any payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of any LC Issuing Bank in accordance with subsection (d) above shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation to make payment, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender. If any Lender (a "Non-Performing Lender") shall fail to make any payment to the Administrative Agent for the account of any LC Issuing Bank in accordance with subsection (d) above within five Business Days after the LC Payment Notice relating thereto, then, for so long as such failure shall continue, the applicable LC Issuing Bank shall be deemed, for purposes of Section 8.01 and Article VI hereof, to be a Lender owed a Borrowing in an amount equal to the outstanding principal amount due and payable by such Non-Performing Lender to the Administrative Agent for the account of such LC Issuing Bank pursuant to subsection (d) above. Any Non-Performing Lender and the Borrower (without waiving any claim against such Lender for such Lender's failure to purchase a participation in the reimbursement obligations of the Borrower under subsection (d) above) severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the applicable LC Issuing Bank forthwith on demand such amount, together with interest thereon for each day from the date such Lender would have purchased its participation had it complied with the requirements of subsection (d) above until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to Base Rate Advances and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. (f) The payment obligations of each Lender under Section 2.03(d) and of the Borrower under this Agreement in respect of any payment under any Letter of Credit by any LC Issuing Bank shall be unconditional and irrevocable, and shall be paid strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under all circumstances, including, without limitation, the following circumstances: (i) any lack of validity or enforceability of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other agreement or instrument relating thereto or to such Letter of Credit; (ii) any amendment or waiver of, or any consent to departure from, the terms of this Agreement or such Letter of Credit; (iii) the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right which the Borrower may have at any time against any beneficiary, or any transferee, of such Letter of Credit (or any Persons for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting), the applicable LC Issuing Bank, or any other Person, whether in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby, thereby or by such Letter of Credit, or any unrelated transaction; (iv) any statement or any other document presented under such Letter of Credit reasonably proving to be forged, fraudulent, invalid or insufficient in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect; (v) payment in good faith by the applicable LC Issuing Bank under the Letter of Credit issued by such LC Issuing Bank against presentation of a draft or certificate that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or (vi) any other circumstance or happening whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. (g) The Borrower assumes all risks of the acts and omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit. Neither the LC Issuing Banks, the Lenders nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or Affiliates shall be liable or responsible for (i) the use that may be made of such Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee thereof in connection therewith; (ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (iii) payment by any LC Issuing Bank against presentation of documents that do not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to such Letter of Credit; or (iv) any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under such Letter of Credit. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Borrower and each Lender shall have the right to bring suit against any LC Issuing Bank, and such LC Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Borrower and any Lender, to the extent of any direct, as opposed to consequential, damages suffered by the Borrower or such Lender which the Borrower or such Lender proves were caused by such LC Issuing Bank's willful misconduct or gross negligence, including, in the case of the Borrower, such LC Issuing Bank's willful failure to make timely payment under such Letter of Credit following the presentation to it by the beneficiary thereof of a draft and accompanying certificate(s) that strictly comply with the terms and conditions of such Letter of Credit. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each LC Issuing Bank may accept sight drafts and accompanying certificates presented under the Letter of Credit issued by such LC Issuing Bank that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, and payment against such documents shall not constitute willful misconduct or gross negligence by such LC Issuing Bank. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Lender shall be obligated to indemnify the Borrower for damages caused by any LC Issuing Bank's willful misconduct or gross negligence. (h) The letters of credit listed in Schedule 2.03(h) shall be deemed "Letters of Credit" upon fulfillment of the conditions listed in Section 3.01. SECTION 2.04. Fees. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a facility fee on the average daily amount of such Lender's Commitment from the date hereof in the case of each Bank, and from the effective date specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, in the case of each other Lender, until the earlier to occur of the Termination Date with respect to the Commitment of such Lender and, in the case of the termination in whole of a Lender's Commitment pursuant to Section 2.05, the date of such termination, payable on the last day of each March, June, September and December during such period, and on the Termination Date with respect to the Commitment of such Lender at the rate per annum set forth below in the columns identified as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4 and Level 5, determined by reference to the Relevant Ratings: Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6 __________________________________________________________________ Relevant Relevant Relevant Relevant Relevant Relevant Ratings Ratings Ratings Ratings Ratings Ratings at least Less Less Less Less below S&P A+ or A1 than than than than BBB* and Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Baa2* Moody's but at but at but at but at least A least A- least least or A2 or A3 BBB+ or BBB or Baa1 Baa2 __________________________________________________________________ Rate Per Annum __________________________________________________________________ Facility Fee 0.900% 0.100% 0.125% 0.150% 0.175% 0.200% *or unrated Any change in the facility fee will be effective as of the date on which S&P or Moody's, as the case may be, announces the applicable change in any Senior Debt Rating. (b) The Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender a fee (the "LC Fee") on the average daily amount of the sum of the undrawn stated amounts of all Letters of Credit outstanding on each such day, from the date hereof in the case of each Bank, and from the effective date specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, in the case of each other Lender, until the later to occur of the Termination Date with respect to the Commitment of such Lender and the date on which no Letters of Credit are outstanding, payable on the last day of each March, June, September and December during such period and such later date, at a rate equal at all times to the Applicable Margin in effect from time to time for Eurodollar Rate Advances. In addition, the Borrower shall pay to the LC Issuing Banks such fees for the issuance and maintenance of Letters of Credit and for drawings thereunder as may be separately agreed between the Borrower and the LC Issuing Banks. SECTION 2.05. Adjustment of the Commitments. (a) The Borrower shall have the right, upon at least three Business Days' notice to the Administrative Agent, to terminate in whole or reduce ratably in part the unused portions of the respective Commitments of the Lenders; provided that each partial reduction shall be in the aggregate amount of $1,000,000 or an integral multiple thereof. Once terminated, a Commitment may not be reinstated. (b) (i) On any date on or prior to the Termination Date, the Borrower may increase the aggregate amount of the Commitments by an amount not less than $5,000,000 and to an amount not to exceed $2,500,000,000 (any such increase, a "Commitment Increase") by designating either one or more of the existing Lenders or one or more Affiliates thereof (each of which, in its sole discretion, may determine whether and to what degree to participate in such Commitment Increase) or one or more other Eligible Assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent that at the time agree, in the case of any such Eligible Assignee that is an existing Lender, to increase its Commitment (an "Increasing Lender") and, in the case of any other Eligible Assignee or an Affiliate of a Lender (an "Additional Lender"), to become a party to this Agreement. The sum of the increases in the Commitments of the Increasing Lenders pursuant to this subsection (c) plus the Commitments of the Additional Lenders upon giving effect to the Commitment Increase shall not in the aggregate exceed the amount of the Commitment Increase. The Borrower shall provide prompt notice of any proposed Commitment Increase pursuant to this Section 2.05(b) to the Administrative Agent, which shall promptly provide a copy of such notice to the Lenders. (ii) Any Commitment Increase shall become effective upon (A) the receipt by the Administrative Agent of an agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent signed by the Borrower, each Increasing Lender and each Additional Lender, setting forth the new Commitments of each such Lender and setting forth the agreement of each Additional Lender to become a party to this Agreement and to be bound by all the terms and provisions hereof binding upon each Lender, (B) the funding by each Lender of the Advance(s) to be made by each such Lender described in paragraph (iii) below and (C) receipt by the Administrative Agent of a certificate (the statements contained in which shall be true) of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower stating that both before and after giving effect to such Commitment Increase (1) no Event of Default and no Prepayment Event has occurred and is continuing and (2) all representations and warranties made by such Borrower in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects. (iii) Upon the effective date of any Commitment Increase, the Borrower shall prepay the outstanding Borrowings (if any) in full, and shall simultaneously make new Borrowings hereunder in an amount equal to such prepayment, so that, after giving effect thereto, the Borrowings are held ratably by the Lenders in accordance with their respective Commitments (after giving effect to such Commitment Increase). Prepayments made under this paragraph (iii) shall not be subject to the notice requirements of Section 2.11. (iv) Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the contrary, from and after the date of any Commitment Increase and the making of any Advances on such date pursuant to paragraph (iii) above, all calculations and payments of the facility fee and of interest on the Advances shall take into account the actual Commitment of each Lender and the principal amount outstanding of each Advance made by such Lender during the relevant period of time. SECTION 2.06. Repayment of Advances. The Borrower shall repay the principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender and as Converted from time to time on the earlier to occur of (i) 364 days after the date of the Borrowing comprising such Advance and (ii) the Termination Date with respect to the Commitment of such Lender. SECTION 2.07. Interest on Advances. The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender from the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum: (a) Base Rate Advances. If such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Margin for such Base Rate Advance in effect from time to time, payable quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full. (b) Eurodollar Rate Advances. Subject to Section 2.08, if such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during the Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin for such Eurodollar Rate Advance in effect from time to time, payable on the last day of each Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advance and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period. SECTION 2.08. Additional Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances. The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, so long as such Lender shall be required under regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Advance of such Lender, from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per annum equal at all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting (i) the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for such Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such Eurodollar Rate by a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period, payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Advance. Such additional interest shall be determined by such Lender and notified to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, and such determination shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. SECTION 2.09. Interest Rate Determination. (a) Each Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Administrative Agent timely information for the purpose of determining each Eurodollar Rate. If any one or more of the Reference Banks shall not furnish such timely information to the Administrative Agent for the purpose of determining any such interest rate, the Administrative Agent shall determine such interest rate on the basis of timely information furnished by the remaining Reference Banks. (b) The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Administrative Agent for purposes of Section 2.07(a) and the applicable rate, if any, furnished by each Reference Bank for the purpose of determining the applicable interest rate under Section 2.07(b). (c) If fewer than two Reference Banks furnish timely information to the Administrative Agent for determining the Eurodollar Rate for any Eurodollar Rate Advances, (i) the Administrative Agent shall forthwith notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the interest rate cannot be determined for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, (ii) each such Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance (or if such Advance is then a Base Rate Advance, will continue as a Base Rate Advance), and (iii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist. (d) If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Majority Lenders notify the Administrative Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon (i) each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and (ii) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist. SECTION 2.10. Conversion of Advances. (a) Voluntary. The Borrower may, upon notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.09 and 2.13, on any Business Day, Convert all Advances of one Type made in connection with the same Borrowing into Advances of another Type; provided, however, that any Conversion of, or with respect to, any Eurodollar Rate Advances into Advances of another Type shall be made on, and only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, unless the Borrower shall also reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b) on the date of such Conversion. Each such notice of a Conversion (a "Notice of Conversion") shall be by telecopier, telex or cable, confirmed immediately in writing, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, specifying therein (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into, or with respect to, Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of the Interest Period for each such Advance. (b) Mandatory. If a Borrower shall fail to select the Type of any Advance or the duration of any Interest Period for any Borrowing comprising Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of "Interest Period" in Section 1.01 and Section 2.10(a), or if any proposed Conversion of a Borrowing that is to comprise Eurodollar Rate Advances upon Conversion shall not occur as a result of the circumstances described in paragraph (c) below, the Administrative Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances. (c) Failure to Convert. Each notice of Conversion given pursuant to subsection (a) above shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing that is to comprise Eurodollar Rate Advances upon Conversion, the Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender if, as a result of the failure of the Borrower to satisfy any condition to such Conversion (including, without limitation, the occurrence of any Prepayment Event or Event of Default, or any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Prepayment Event with notice or lapse of time or both), such Conversion does not occur. The Borrower's obligations under this subsection (c) shall survive the repayment of all other amounts owing to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the termination of the Commitments. SECTION 2.11. Prepayments. The Borrower may, upon notice received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on any Business Day, with respect to Base Rate Advances, and upon at least two Business Days' notice to the Administrative Agent, with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amounts of the Advances made as part of the same Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided, however, that (i) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $1,000,000 or any integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof and (ii) in the case of any such prepayment of an Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b) on the date of such prepayment. SECTION 2.12. Increased Costs. (a) If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, included in the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage) in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Advances, then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. (b) If any Lender or LC Issuing Bank determines that compliance with any law or regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or LC Issuing Bank or any corporation controlling such Lender or LC Issuing Bank and that the amount of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender's or LC Issuing Bank's commitment to lend hereunder and other commitments of this type (including such Lender's or LC Issuing Bank's commitment to lend hereunder) or the Advances, then, upon demand by such Lender or LC Issuing Bank (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender or LC Issuing Bank, from time to time as specified by such Lender or LC Issuing Bank, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or LC Issuing Bank or such corporation in the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender or LC Issuing Bank reasonably determines such increase in capital to be allocable to the existence of such Lender's or LC Issuing Bank's commitment to lend hereunder or the Advances made by such Lender or LC Issuing Bank. A certificate in reasonable detail as to such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender or LC Issuing Bank shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. SECTION 2.13. Illegality. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent that the introduction of, any change in or any change in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist and (ii) the Borrower shall forthwith prepay in full all Eurodollar Rate Advances of all Lenders then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon, unless the Borrower, within five Business Days of notice from the Administrative Agent, Converts all Eurodollar Rate Advances of all Lenders then outstanding into Advances of another Type in accordance with Section 2.10. SECTION 2.14. Payments and Computations. (a) The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the day when due in U.S. dollars to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 8.02 in same day funds. The Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest or facility fees ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.02(c), 2.04, 2.08, 2.12, 2.15 or 8.04(b)) to the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender or LC Issuing Bank to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office or to any LC Issuing Bank, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(d), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments hereunder in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves. (b) The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender, if and to the extent payment owed to such Lender is not made when due hereunder, to charge from time to time to the extent permitted by law against any or all of the Borrower's accounts with such Lender any amount so due. (c) All computations of interest based on clause (i) of the definition of "Base Rate" shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate, the LC Fee, the Federal Funds Rate or clause (ii) of the definition of "Base Rate" and of facility fees shall be made by the Administrative Agent, and all computations of interest pursuant to Section 2.08 shall be made by a Lender, on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest or facility fees are payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of Section 2.08, by a Lender) of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error. (d) Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest or facility fee, as the case may be; provided, however, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day. (e) Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate. (f) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Advance or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder that is not paid when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), and all Advances at any time an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, shall (to the fullest extent permitted by law) bear interest from the date when due until paid in full at a rate per annum equal at all times, in the case of each Advance, to the applicable interest rate in effect from time to time for such Advance plus 2% per annum, and, in the case of other amounts, to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Advances plus 2% per annum, payable in each case upon demand. SECTION 2.15. Taxes. (a) Any and all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.14, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender, such LC Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent, net income taxes and franchise taxes imposed in lieu of net income taxes on it by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender, such LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender, net income taxes and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes by the jurisdiction of such Lender's Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender, any LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased (unless and to the extent that (x) the Borrower is required to deduct such Taxes because any Lender fails to comply with subsection (d) below or (y) such Taxes are imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, except to the extent such Lender's assignor, if any, was entitled at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.15(a)) as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.15) such Lender, such LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law. Whenever any Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter, the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the original receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof. (b) In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes"). (c) The Borrower will indemnify each Lender, each LC Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.15) paid by such Lender, such LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender, such LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor. Nothing herein shall preclude the right of the Borrower to contest any such Taxes or Other Taxes so paid, and the Lenders or LC Issuing Banks in question or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) will, following notice from, and at the expense of, the Borrower, take such actions as the Borrower may reasonably request to preserve the Borrower's rights to contest such Taxes or Other Taxes, and, within 60 days following receipt of any refund of amounts with respect to Taxes or Other Taxes for which such Lenders, such LC Issuing Banks or the Administrative Agent were previously indemnified under this Section 2.15, pay to the Borrower such refunded amounts (including any interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such amounts) to the extent of the indemnity payments made by the Borrower; provided, however, that the Borrower agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower if such Lender, such LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund. (d) Prior to the date of the initial Borrowing in the case of each Bank, prior to the date of the initial issuance of any Letter of Credit, and on the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower, an LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent in writing, each Lender and each LC Issuing Bank organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States shall provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States certifying that such Lender or such LC Issuing Bank is exempt from or eligible for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding taxes with respect to all payments to be made to such Lender hereunder or such LC Issuing Bank. Each LC Issuing Bank and each Lender shall deliver forms pursuant to this Section 2.15(d) showing eligibility for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax, rather than a complete exemption therefrom, only as a result of a change in treaty, law or regulation that occurs after the date such Lender or such LC Issuing Bank becomes a party to this Agreement; provided, however, that a Lender whose assignor, if any, was entitled at the time of assignment to a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax, rather than a complete exemption therefrom, as a result of a change in treaty, law or regulation that occurred after the date such assignor became a party to this Agreement shall be entitled to deliver a form showing eligibility for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax to the extent that such assignor was so entitled. If for any reason during the term of this Agreement, any Lender or any LC Issuing Bank becomes unable to submit the forms referred to above or the information or representations contained therein are no longer accurate in any material respect, such Lender or such LC Issuing Bank shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing to that effect. Unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent have received forms or other documents satisfactory to them indicating that payments hereunder are not subject to United States federal withholding tax, the Borrower or, if the Borrower fails to do so, the Administrative Agent, shall withhold taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate in the case of payments to or for any Lender or any LC Issuing Bank organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a Lender or an LC Issuing Bank organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States shall not be required to deliver any form that such Lender or such LC Issuing Bank is not legally able to deliver. (e) Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.15 shall use its reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office, change its Applicable Lending Office to another office of the Lender or take other actions customary or otherwise reasonable under the circumstances if the making of such a change or the taking of such actions would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts which may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender to suffer economic, legal or regulator disadvantage. Nothing in this subsection 2.15(e) shall postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.15. (f) Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 2.15 shall survive the payment in full of principal and interest hereunder. SECTION 2.16. Sharing of Payments, Etc. If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Advances made by it (other than pursuant to Section 2.02(c), 2.08, 2.12, 2.15 or 8.04(b)) or, on account of the Borrower's reimbursement obligations in respect of LC Outstandings in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of the Advances or on account of such reimbursement obligations obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Advances made by them and such reimbursement obligations as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them, provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender's required repayment to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.16 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set- off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation. SECTION 2.17. Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness. (a) Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Advance made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder. (b) The Administrative Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of each Advance made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period (if any) with respect thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder, and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof. (c) The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such obligations in accordance with their terms. (d) Any Lender may request that its Advances be evidenced by one or more promissory notes. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender one or more promissory notes payable to the order of such Lender and in a form acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Advances evidenced by such note(s) and interest thereon shall at all times (including after any assignment pursuant to Section 8.07) be represented by notes from the Borrower, payable to the order of the payee named therein or any assignee pursuant to Section 8.07, except to the extent that any such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such notes for cancellation and requests that such Borrowings once again be evidenced as in subsections (a) and (b) above. SECTION 2.18. Extension of Termination Date. (a) So long as no Event of Default and no Prepayment Event has occurred and is continuing, the Borrower may, at least 30 but not more than 60 days prior to each anniversary of the date hereof (the "Extension Notice Date"), by delivering a written request to the Administrative Agent (such request being irrevocable), request that each Lender extend for one year the Termination Date with respect to such Lender's Commitment. The Administrative Agent shall, upon its receipt of such request, promptly notify each Lender thereof, and request that each Lender promptly advise the Administrative Agent of its approval or rejection of such request. The Borrower may exercise its right to request an extension of the Termination Date under this Section 2.18 once per year no more than five times. (b) Upon receipt of such notification from the Administrative Agent, each Lender may (but shall not be required to), in its sole and absolute discretion, agree to extend the Termination Date with respect to its Commitment and any of its outstanding Advances for a period of one year, and shall (should it determine to do so), no earlier than 30 days (but in any event no later than 20 days prior to the then-scheduled Termination Date) following its receipt of such notification, notify the Administrative Agent in writing of its consent to such request. If any Lender shall not so notify the Administrative Agent, such Lender shall be deemed not to have consented to such request. The Administrative Agent shall thereupon notify the Borrower no later than 15 days prior to the then-scheduled Termination Date as to the Lenders, if any, that have consented to such request. (c) If Lenders holding Commitments aggregating more than 50% of the Commitments then in effect agree to such request, the Commitment of each Lender that consents to such request shall be extended for a period of one year, commencing on the then- scheduled Termination Date; subject, however, to the condition precedent that, on or prior to the date of such extension, the Administrative Agent shall have received the following, each dated such date and in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent: (i) a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower to the effect that as of the date of extension of the Termination Date (A) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from the extension of the Termination Date, that constitutes an Event of Default or would, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, constitute an Event of Default and (B) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are correct in all material respects on and as of the date of extension of the Termination Date, before and after giving effect to such extension, as though made on and as of such date, (ii) certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower authorizing such extension and the performance of this Agreement on and after the date of extension of the Termination Date, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action and governmental and regulatory approvals with respect to this Agreement and such extension of the Termination Date and (iii) an opinion of the counsel of the Borrower, as to such matters related to the foregoing as the Administrative Agent or the Lenders through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. Subject to subsection (d) below, the Commitment of any Lender electing not to extend (or failing to notify the Administrative Agent in writing of its consent to extend) the Termination Date shall automatically terminate on the then-scheduled Termination Date (without regard to any extension by any other Lender). (d) In the event that any Lender (a "Nonconsenting Lender") shall not consent (or shall be deemed not to have consented) to an extension request of the Borrower made pursuant to subsection (a) above, the Borrower will have the right to substitute other financial institutions reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuing Banks for any Nonconsenting Lender (provided that the other Lenders shall have the right to increase their Commitments ratably according to the amount of their Commitments relative to the other Commitments that are to be extended up to the amount of the Commitment of such Nonconsenting Lender before the Borrower shall be permitted to substitute any other financial institution for such Nonconsenting Lender) by causing any Nonconsenting Lender to assign its Commitment pursuant to Section 8.07 hereof, provided, however, that the parties to any such assignment shall not be required to pay the processing and recordation fee otherwise payable under Section 8.07(a)(iv), and provided, further that such Nonconsenting Lender shall, prior to the effectiveness of any such assignment, be paid in full all amounts due to it hereunder. (e) Upon the extension of the Termination Date in accordance with this Section 2.18, the Administrative Agent shall deliver to each Lender a revised Schedule II setting forth the Commitment of each Lender after giving effect to such extension, and such Schedule II shall replace the Schedule II in effect before the extension of the then applicable Termination Date. (f) In the event that any Lender shall not have consented to a request made by the Borrower under this Section 2.18 to extend the Termination Date, then, on the date of any termination or reduction of the Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.18, the Borrower shall pay or prepay to such Lender the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Advances of such Lender with respect to such termination or reduction of its Commitment, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid and all other fees and other amounts due and payable to such Lender hereunder. In the case of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse each such Lender in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b). ARTICLE III CONDITIONS OF EXTENSIONS OF CREDIT SECTION 3.01. Conditions Precedent to Initial Extensions of Credit. The obligation of each Lender to make its initial Advance and of each LC Issuing Bank to issue the initial Letter of Credit is subject to the conditions precedent that on or before the date of such Advance: (a) The Administrative Agent shall have received the following, each dated the same date (except for the financial statements referred to in paragraph (iv) below), in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (except for the notes described in paragraph (i)) with one copy for each Lender and each LC Issuing Bank: (i) A promissory note payable to the order of each Lender that requests one pursuant to Section 2.17; (ii) Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving this Agreement, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action with respect to this Agreement; (iii) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying (A) the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder; (B) that attached thereto are true and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the By Laws of the Borrower, in each case in effect on such date; and (C) that attached thereto are true and correct copies of all governmental and regulatory authorizations and approvals required for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, including, without limitation, a copy of the order dated June 30, 2004 (File No. 70- 10202) of the SEC under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 authorizing the Borrower to obtain Extensions of Credit through June 30, 2007 and to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement (the "SEC Order"); (iv) Copies of the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, and copies of the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005, in each case certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied; (v) A favorable opinion of counsel for the Borrower, acceptable to the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto and as to such other matters as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request; and (vi) A favorable opinion of King & Spalding LLP, special New York counsel for the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto. (b) The Administrative Agent shall have received the fees payable pursuant to the Fee Letter. (c) The commitments of the lenders under the Existing Credit Agreements shall have been terminated, and the obligations of the Borrower under the Existing Credit Agreements to such lenders shall have been paid in full. SECTION 3.02. Conditions Precedent to Each Extension of Credit. The obligation of each Lender to make an Advance on the occasion of each Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing) and of each LC Issuing Bank to issue any Letter of Credit shall be subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of such Borrowing: (a) the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing, Request for Issuance or Notice of Conversion and the acceptance by the Borrower of any proceeds of a Borrowing or the issuance of such Letter of Credit shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Extension of Credit or Conversion, as applicable, such statements are true): (i) The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (excluding those contained in subsections (e) and (f) thereof with respect to each Extension of Credit requested after the initial Extension of Credit) are correct on and as of the date of such Extension of Credit, before and after giving effect to such Extension of Credit and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and (ii) No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Extension of Credit or from the application of the proceeds therefrom or the issuance or amendment of any Letter of Credit in connection therewith, that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default with notice or lapse of time or both. (b) The Administrative Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents with respect to the truth of the foregoing statements (i) and (ii) as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request. (c) Each Letter of Credit shall be in form and substance acceptable to the LC Issuing Bank issuing such Letter of Credit. SECTION 3.03. Conditions Precedent to Extensions of Credit After June 30, 2007. At any time after June 30, 2007, the obligation of each Lender to make an Advance as part of any Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing) that would increase the aggregate principal amount of Advances outstanding hereunder, and the obligation of each LC Issuing Bank to issue, amend, extend or renew a Letter of Credit (including the initial Letter of Credit), shall be subject to the further conditions precedent that on or prior to the date of such Extension of Credit the Administrative Agent shall have received the following, each dated the same date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and with one copy for each LC Issuing Bank and each Lender: (i) A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying that attached thereto is a true and correct copy of the New SEC Order and the Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto in the SEC file or files related thereto and that such order and declaration have been issued or filed and are in full force and effect; and (ii) An opinion of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, special counsel for the Borrower, to the effect that no Governmental Action is or will be required in connection with the performance by the Borrower, or the consummation by the Borrower of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than the New SEC Order, which has been duly issued and is in full force and effect. ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES SECTION 4.01. Representations and Warranties of the Borrower. The Borrower represents and warrants as follows: (a) The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the property owned, operated or leased by it requires such qualification, except where failure to so qualify would not materially adversely affect its condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties, or prospects. (b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not contravene (i) the Borrower's charter or by-laws, (ii) law applicable to the Borrower or its properties, or (iii) any contractual or legal restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower or its properties. (c) No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body (i) is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, including obtaining any Extensions of Credit under this Agreement, except for the following (each of which has been duly filed or obtained, and is final and in full force and effect): (A) the filing of the Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto in File No. 70-10202 and (B) the SEC Order; and (ii) is required after June 30, 2007 for the performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, including obtaining any Extensions of Credit under this Agreement, except for the following: (A) the filing of a Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto, or the filing of amendments to File No. 70-10202, to request, among other things, that the term of the SEC Order be extended from at least June 30, 2007 to May 25, 2010, or such later Termination Date as extended pursuant to Section 2.18 and (B) the New SEC Order. (d) This Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to any applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, rearrangement, moratorium or similar laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors' rights and remedies and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). (e) The consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and for the year ended on such date, as set forth in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended on such date, as filed with the SEC, accompanied by an opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP, and the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005 and for the fiscal period ended on such date set forth in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended on such date, as filed with the SEC, copies of each of which have been furnished to each Bank, fairly present (subject, in the case of such statements dated March 31, 2005, to year-end adjustments) the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as at such dates and the consolidated results of the operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, since December 31, 2004, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition or operations of the Borrower. (f) Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, there is no pending or threatened action or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower or on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or that purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement. There has been no change in any matter disclosed in such filings that could reasonably be expected to result in such a material adverse effect. (g) No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or that would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both. (h) The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and not more than 25% of the value of the assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries subject to the restrictions of Section 5.02(a), (c) or (d) is, on the date hereof, represented by margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System). (i) The Borrower is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or an "investment advisor" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Borrower is a "holding company" as that term is defined in, and is registered under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935. (j) No ERISA Termination Event has occurred, or is reasonably expected to occur, with respect to any ERISA Plan that may materially and adversely affect the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. (k) Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each ERISA Plan, copies of which have been filed with the Internal Revenue Service and furnished to the Banks, is complete and accurate and fairly presents the funding status of such ERISA Plan, and since the date of such Schedule B there has been no material adverse change in such funding status. (l) The Borrower has not incurred, and does not reasonably expect to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan. ARTICLE V COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER SECTION 5.01. Affirmative Covenants. So long as any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding hereunder, the Borrower will, unless the Majority Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing: (a) Keep Books; Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties; Compliance with Laws; Insurance; Taxes; Inspection Rights. (i) keep proper books of record and account, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) except as otherwise permitted by Section 5.02(c), preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and preserve and keep in full force and effect its licenses, rights and franchises to the extent necessary to carry on its business; (iii) maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, its properties in good repair, working order and condition, and from time to time make or cause to be made all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements and improvements, in each case to the extent such properties are not obsolete and not necessary to carry on its business; (iv) comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, paying before the same become delinquent all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or its property, except to the extent being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and compliance with ERISA and Environmental Laws; (v) maintain insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations or through its own program of self-insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which it operates and furnish to the Administrative Agent, within a reasonable time after written request therefor, such information as to the insurance carried as any Lender, through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably request; (vi) pay and discharge its obligations and liabilities in the ordinary course of business, except to the extent that such obligations and liabilities are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and (vii) from time to time upon reasonable notice, permit or arrange for the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuing Banks, the Lenders and their respective agents and representatives to inspect the records and books of account of the Borrower and its subsidiaries during regular business hours. (b) Use of Proceeds. The Borrower may use the proceeds of the Borrowings and the Letters of Credit for only general corporate purposes including (i) financing, in part, investments by and capital expenditures of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, (ii) subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, repurchases of common stock of the Borrower and/or investments in nonregulated and/or nonutility businesses and (iii) financing working capital requirements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries. (c) Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Lenders: (i) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, (A) consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and (B) consolidated statements of income and retained earnings of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, each certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied; (ii) as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual report for such year for the Borrower and its subsidiaries, containing consolidated financial statements for such year certified without qualification by Deloitte & Touche LLP (or such other nationally recognized public accounting firm as the Administrative Agent may approve), and certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied; (iii) as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower and within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Borrower, a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, stating that no Prepayment Event or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement setting forth details of such Prepayment Event or Event of Default, as the case may be, and the action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto; (iv) as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Borrower has knowledge of the occurrence of each Prepayment Event, Event of Default and each event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default, continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the duly authorized officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such Prepayment Event or Event of Default or event, as the case may be, and the actions that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto; (v) as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Borrower receives notice of the commencement of any litigation against, or any arbitration, administrative, governmental or regulatory proceeding involving, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower, notice of such litigation describing in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances concerning such litigation and the Borrower's or such subsidiary's proposed actions in connection therewith; (vi) promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all reports that the Borrower sends to any of its securities holders, and copies of all reports and registration statements which the Borrower files with the SEC or any national securities exchange pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, and of all certificates pursuant to Rule 24 which the Borrower files with the SEC pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 in connection with the proceeding of the SEC in File No. 70-10202 related to the SEC Order, the SEC file or files related to the New SEC Order or any subsequent proceedings related thereto; (vii) as soon as possible and in any event (A) within 30 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Termination Event described in clause (i) of the definition of ERISA Termination Event with respect to any ERISA Plan has occurred and (B) within 10 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know that any other ERISA Termination Event with respect to any ERISA Plan has occurred, a statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower describing such ERISA Termination Event and the action, if any, that the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto; (viii) promptly and in any event within two Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower from the PBGC, copies of each notice received by the Borrower of the PBGC's intention to terminate any ERISA Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any ERISA Plan; (ix) promptly and in any event within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service, copies of each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each ERISA Plan; (x) promptly and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor, a copy of each notice received by the Borrower concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA; (xi) promptly and in any event within five Business Days after Moody's or S&P has changed any Senior Debt Rating of any Significant Subsidiary, notice of such change; and (xii) such other information respecting the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any LC Issuing Bank or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request. (d) SEC Orders. Maintain the SEC Order and, on and after the date of any Extension of Credit after June 30, 2007, the New SEC Order, in full force and effect and comply with all terms and conditions thereof until all amounts outstanding under this Agreement shall have been repaid or paid (as the case may be) and the Termination Date has occurred. SECTION 5.02. Negative Covenants. So long as any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment or any Letter of Credit shall remain outstanding hereunder, the Borrower will not, without the written consent of the Majority Lenders: (a) Liens, Etc. Create or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of its properties (including, without limitation, any shares of any class of equity security of any of its Significant Subsidiaries or of Entergy New Orleans), in each case to secure or provide for the payment of Debt, other than: (i) Liens in existence on the date of this Agreement; (ii) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies to the extent not past due, or which are being contested in good faith in appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which the Borrower has provided adequate reserves for the payment thereof in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (iii) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations under worker's compensation laws or similar legislation; (iv) other pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business (other than for borrowed monies) that, in the aggregate, are not material to the Borrower; (v) purchase money mortgages or other liens or purchase money security interests upon or in any property acquired or held by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such property or to secure indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such property; (vi) Liens imposed by law such as materialmen's, mechanics', carriers', workers' and repairmen's Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet due or currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; (vii) attachment, judgment or other similar Liens arising in connection with court proceedings, provided that such Liens, in the aggregate, shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding, (viii) other Liens not otherwise referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vii) above, provided that such Liens, in the aggregate, shall not exceed $100,000,000 at any one time and (ix) Liens created for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing in whole or in part Debt secured by any Lien referred in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) above, provided that the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement and that such extension, renewal or replacement, as the case may be, shall be limited to all or a part of the property or Debt that secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (and any improvements on such property); provided, further, that no Lien permitted under the foregoing clauses (i) through (ix) shall be placed upon any shares of any class of equity security of any Significant Subsidiary or of Entergy New Orleans unless the obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder are simultaneously and ratably secured by such Lien pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Lenders. (b) Limitation on Debt. Permit the total principal amount of all Debt of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and without duplication of liability therefor, at any time to exceed 65% of Capitalization determined as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 5.02(b) "Debt" and "Capitalization" shall not include (i) Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to a subsidiary trust which has issued preferred securities that are included in the calculation of "Capitalization" and (ii) any Debt of any subsidiary of the Borrower that is Non-Recourse Debt. (c) Mergers, Etc. Merge with or into or consolidate with or into any other Person, except that the Borrower may merge with any other Person, provided that, immediately after giving effect to any such merger, (i) the Borrower is the surviving corporation or (A) the surviving corporation is organized under the laws of one of the states of the United States of America and assumes the Borrower's obligations hereunder in a manner acceptable to the Majority Lenders, and (B) after giving effect to such merger, the senior unsecured long-term debt of such Person shall be at least BBB- and Baa3, (ii) no event shall have occurred and be continuing that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both, and (iii) the Borrower shall not be liable with respect to any Debt or allow its property to be subject to any Lien which would not be permissible with respect to it or its property under this Agreement on the date of such transaction. (d) Disposition of Assets. Cause a Stock Disposition with respect to any Significant Subsidiary, or permit any Significant Subsidiary to cause a Stock Disposition with respect to any other Person, unless (i) the Borrower shall continue to own directly or indirectly all of the Common Equity of each Significant Subsidiary, or (ii) such Stock Disposition is pursuant, required or related to any regulatory authority and/or governing body (pertaining (A) to the organization or formation of a regional transmission organization or (B) to the separation or disaggregation of generation, transmission and/or distribution assets), and within 180 days of such Stock Disposition, the Borrower applies (or causes such Significant Subsidiary to apply) all of the Net Available Cash from such Stock Disposition (1) to prepay, repay, purchase, repurchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire for value Debt of the Borrower and/or Debt of one or more Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiaries that remain a subsidiary of the Borrower and/or (2) to reinvest in the business of one or more Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiaries of the Borrower. ARTICLE VI EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. Each of the following events shall constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder: (a) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance or any reimbursement obligation in respect of a Letter of Credit when the same becomes due and payable, or shall fail to pay interest thereon or any other amount payable under this Agreement within three Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or (b) Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made; or (c) The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe (i) any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(b) or 5.02 or (ii) any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if the failure to perform or observe such other term, covenant or agreement shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or (d) The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Debt of the Borrower that is outstanding in a principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Debt hereunder) when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt; or (e) The Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans seeking to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans shall take any corporate action to authorize or to consent to any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e); or (f) Any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of 10 consecutive Business Days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or (g) (i) An ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower shall fail to maintain the minimum funding standards required by Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any plan year or a waiver of such standard is sought or granted under Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or (ii) an ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower is, shall have been or will be terminated or the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA, or (iii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower has incurred or will incur a liability to or on account of an ERISA Plan under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA and there shall result from such event either a liability or a material risk of incurring a liability to the PBGC or an ERISA Plan, or (iv) any ERISA Termination Event with respect to an ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower shall have occurred, and in the case of any event described in clauses (i) through (iv), (A) such event (if correctable) shall not have been corrected and (B) the then- present value of such ERISA Plan's vested benefits exceeds the then-current value of assets accumulated in such ERISA Plan by more than the amount of $25,000,000 (or in the case of an ERISA Termination Event involving the withdrawal of a "substantial employer" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), the withdrawing employer's proportionate share of such excess shall exceed such amount). SECTION 6.02. Remedies. If any Prepayment Event or Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances and the obligation of each LC Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances and the obligation of each LC Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower. SECTION 6.03. Cash Collateral Account. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no notice given or declaration made by the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Article VI shall affect (i) the obligation of any LC Issuing Bank to make any payment under any Letter of Credit in accordance with the terms of such Letter of Credit or (ii) the obligations of each Lender in respect of each such Letter of Credit; provided, however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Administrative Agent shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, upon notice to the Borrower, require the Borrower to deposit with the Administrative Agent an amount in the cash collateral account (the "Cash Collateral Account") described below equal to the LC Outstandings on such date. Such Cash Collateral Account shall at all times be free and clear of all rights or claims of third parties. The Cash Collateral Account shall be maintained with the Administrative Agent in the name of, and under the sole dominion and control of, the Administrative Agent, and amounts deposited in the Cash Collateral Account shall bear interest at a rate equal to the rate generally offered by Citibank for deposits equal to the amount deposited by the Borrower in the Cash Collateral Account, for a term to be determined by the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion. The Borrower hereby grants to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of the LC Issuing Banks and the Lenders a Lien in and hereby assigns to the Administrative Agent for the benefit of LC Issuing Banks and the Lenders all of its right, title and interest in, the Cash Collateral Account and all funds from time to time on deposit therein to secure its reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit. If any drawings then outstanding or thereafter made are not reimbursed in full immediately upon demand or, in the case of subsequent drawings, upon being made, then, in any such event, the Administrative Agent may apply the amounts then on deposit in the Cash Collateral Account, toward the payment in full of any of the LC Outstandings as and when such obligations shall become due and payable. Upon payment in full, after the termination of the Letters of Credit, of all such obligations, the Administrative Agent will repay and reassign to the Borrower any cash then in the Cash Collateral Account and the Lien of the Administrative Agent on the Cash Collateral Account and the funds therein shall automatically terminate. ARTICLE VII THE AGENT SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action. Each LC Issuing Bank and Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Advances), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Majority Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The Administrative Agent agrees to give to each Lender and LC Issuing Bank prompt notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. SECTION 7.02. Administrative Agent's Reliance, Etc. Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent: (i) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (ii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (iii) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower; (iv) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of any lien or security interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (v) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier, telegram, cable or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties. SECTION 7.03. Citibank and Affiliates. With respect to its Commitment and the Advances made by it, Citibank shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include Citibank in its individual capacity. Citibank and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower, any of its subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own securities of the Borrower or any such subsidiary, all as if Citibank were not the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders. SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision. Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement. SECTION 7.05. Indemnification. The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the Advances then outstanding to each of them (or if no Advances are at the time outstanding, ratably according to the respective amounts of their Commitments), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that such expenses are reimbursable by the Borrower but for which the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed by the Borrower. SECTION 7.06. Successor Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Majority Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which, for so long as no Prepayment Event or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, shall be a Lender and shall be approved by the Borrower (with such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and approved by the Borrower, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent's giving of notice of resignation or the Majority Lenders' removal of the retiring Administrative Agent, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States or of any other country that is a member of the OECD having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if no Prepayment Event or Event of Default, and no event that with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, then no successor Administrative Agent shall be appointed under this Section 7.06 without the prior written consent of the Borrower, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Majority Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders (other than any Lender that is the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower), do any of the following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01 or 3.02, (b) increase the Commitments of the Lenders (other than pursuant to Section 2.05(b)) or subject the Lenders to any additional obligations, (c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (e) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or the number of Lenders that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder or (f) amend this Section 8.01; and provided further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuing Banks in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or the LC Issuing Banks under this Agreement, and provided further, that this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender, any LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender, such LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated) or have any Commitment or other obligation hereunder or under any Letter of Credit and shall have been paid in full all amounts payable hereunder to such Lender, such LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be. SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc. All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier, telegraphic, telex or cable communication) and mailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed, cabled or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at 639 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113, Email: smcneal@entergy.com, Attention: Treasurer; if to any Bank or LC Issuing Bank, at its Domestic Lending Office specified opposite its name on Schedule I hereto; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender and if to the Administrative Agent, at its address at Two Penns Way, Suite 200, New Castle, Delaware 19720, Attention: Bank Loan Syndications, Jacqueline Caine (Telephone: 302-894-6079, Telecopier: 212-994- 0961, Email: jacqueline.caine@citigroup.com; or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties. All such notices and communications shall, when mailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed or cabled, be effective when deposited in the mails, telecopied, delivered to the telegraph company, confirmed by telex answerback or delivered to the cable company, respectively, except that notices and communications to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Article II or VII shall not be effective until received by the Administrative Agent. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(c), notices and other communications given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed given to the Lenders. SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies. No failure on the part of any Lender, any LC Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law. SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses; Indemnification. (a) The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, syndication administration, modification and amendment of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Agreement, subject, in each case, to the terms of the Fee Letter. Any invoices to the Borrower with respect to the aforementioned expenses shall describe such costs and expenses in reasonable detail. The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses, if any (including, without limitation, counsel fees and expenses of outside counsel and of internal counsel), incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and the LC Issuing Banks in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, and the protection of the rights of the Lenders under, this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a). (b) If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurodollar Rate Advance is made other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.05(b)(iii), 2.09(d), 2.10, 2.11 or 2.13, acceleration of the maturity of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.02, assignment to another Lender upon demand of the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.07(g) for any other reason, the Borrower shall, upon demand by any Lender or any LC Issuing Bank (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender or such LC Issuing Bank any amounts required to compensate such Lender or such LC Issuing Bank for any additional losses, costs or expenses which it may reasonably incur as a result of such payment or Conversion, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits upon such Lender's or such LC Issuing Bank's representation to the Borrower that it has made reasonable efforts to mitigate such loss), cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Advance. Any Lender making a demand pursuant to this Section 8.04(b) shall provide the Borrower with a written certification of the amounts required to be paid to such Lender, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the Lender's determination of such amounts; provided, however, that no Lender shall be required to disclose any confidential or proprietary information in any certification provided pursuant hereto, and the failure of any Lender to provide such certification shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder. (c) The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold each Lender, each LC Issuing Bank, the Administrative Agent and their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and professional advisors (each, an "Indemnified Person") harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses, whether or not such Indemnified Person is named as a party to any proceeding or is otherwise subjected to judicial or legal process arising from any such proceeding) that any of them may incur or which may be claimed against any of them by any Person or entity by reason of or in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, or the use by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries of the proceeds of any Advance or the use by the Borrower or any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of such Letter of Credit, except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to any indemnification hereunder to the extent that such claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses are finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person. The Borrower's obligations under this Section 8.04(c) shall survive the repayment of all amounts owing to the Lenders, the LC Issuing Banks, and the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the termination of the Commitments. If and to the extent that the obligations of the Borrower under this Section 8.04(c) are unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction thereof which is permissible under applicable law. The Borrower also agrees not to assert any claim against any Lender, any LC Issuing Bank, any of such Lender's or such LC Issuing Bank's affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances or the use by the Borrower or any beneficiary of any Letter of Credit of such Letter of Credit. SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off. Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Prepayment Event or Event of Default and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.02 to authorize the Administrative Agent to declare the Advances due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.02, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 8.05 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which such Lender may have. SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect. This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent, each LC Issuing Bank and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders. SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations. (a) Each Lender may assign to one or more banks or other entities all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it); provided, however, that (i) the Borrower (unless a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing), each LC Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent shall have consented to such assignment (in the case of the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, with each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) by signing the Assignment and Acceptance referred to in clause (iv) below; (ii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under this Agreement; (iii) the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than $10,000,000 and shall be an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or shall be the total amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment); and (iv) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any promissory notes held by the assigning Lender and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (plus an amount equal to out-of-pocket legal expenses of the Administrative Agent, estimated by the Administrative Agent and advised to such parties). Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and (y) the Lender assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender at any time may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate or Approved Fund of such Lender. (b) By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender. (c) The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 8.02 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice. (d) Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, together with any promissory notes held by the assigning Lender, the Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower. (e) Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks, financial institutions or other entities in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the maker of any such Advance for all purposes of this Agreement and (iv) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement. (f) Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 8.07, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant, any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Borrower received by it from such Lender. (g) If any Lender shall make any demand for payment under Section 2.12 or 2.15, or if any Lender shall be the subject of any notification or assertion of illegality under Section 2.13, then within 30 days after any such demand (if, but only if, such demanded payment has been made by the Borrower) or notification or assertion, the Borrower may, with the approval of the Administrative Agent and the LC Issuing Banks (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and provided that no Prepayment Event, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall then have occurred and be continuing, demand that such Lender assign in accordance with this Section 8.07 to one or more assignees designated by the Borrower and acceptable to the Administrative Agent all (but not less than all) of such Lender's Commitment and the Advances owing to it within the period ending on the later to occur of such 30th day and the last day of the longest of the then current Interest Periods for such Advances; provided, however, that the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent the $3,500 administrative fee payable pursuant to clause (iv) of subsection (a) above if such assignee is not a Lender immediately prior to such assignment. If any such assignee designated by the Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent shall fail to consummate such assignment on terms acceptable to such Lender, or if the Borrower shall fail to designate any such assignees acceptable to the Administrative Agent for all or part of such Lender's Commitment or Advances, then such demand by the Borrower shall become ineffective; it being understood for purposes of this subsection (h) that such assignment shall be conclusively deemed to be on terms acceptable to such Lender, and such Lender shall be compelled to consummate such assignment to an Eligible Assignee designated by the Borrower, if such Eligible Assignee (A) shall agree to such assignment by entering into an Assignment and Acceptance with such Lender and (B) shall offer compensation to such Lender in an amount equal to all amounts then owing by the Borrower to such Lender hereunder, whether for principal, interest, fees, costs or expenses (other than the demanded payment referred to above and payable by the Borrower as a condition to the Borrower's right to demand such assignment), or otherwise. In addition, in the event that the Borrower shall be entitled to demand the replacement of any Lender pursuant to this subsection (h), the Borrower may, in the case of any such Lender, with the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and provided that no Prepayment Event, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall then have occurred and be continuing, terminate all (but not less than all) such Lender's Commitment and prepay all (but not less than all) such Lender's Advances not so assigned, together with all interest accrued thereon to the date of such prepayment and all fees, costs and expenses and other amounts then owing by the Borrower to such Lender hereunder, at any time from and after such later occurring day in accordance with Sections 2.05 and 2.11 hereof (but without the requirement stated therein for ratable treatment of the other Lenders), if and only if, after giving effect to such termination and prepayment, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Advances of all Lenders then outstanding does not exceed the then remaining Commitments of the Lenders. Notwithstanding anything set forth above in this subsection (h) to the contrary, the Borrower shall not be entitled to compel the assignment by any Lender demanding payment under Section 2.12(a) of its Commitment and Advances or terminate and prepay the Commitment and Advances of such Lender if, prior to or promptly following any such demand by the Borrower, such Lender shall have changed or shall change, as the case may be, its Applicable Lending Office for its Eurodollar Rate Advances so as to eliminate the further incurrence of such increased cost. In furtherance of the foregoing, any such Lender demanding payment or giving notice as provided above agrees to use reasonable efforts to so change its Applicable Lending Office if, to do so, would not result in the incurrence by such Lender of additional costs or expenses which it deems material or, in the sole judgment of such Lender, be inadvisable for regulatory, competitive or internal management reasons. (h) Anything in this Section 8.07 to the contrary notwithstanding, any Lender may assign and pledge all or any portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it to any Federal Reserve Bank (and its transferees) as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder. (i) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC") of such Granting Lender identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent, the LC Issuing Banks and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Advance that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any such SPC to make any Advance, (ii) if such SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Advance, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Advance pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) no SPC or Granting Lender shall be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section 2.12 or 8.04(b) than the Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive had the Granting Lender not otherwise granted such SPC the option to provide any Advance to the Borrower. The making of an Advance by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Advance were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable so long as, and to the extent that, the related Granting Lender provides such indemnity or makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against or join any other person in instituting against such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidation proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Granting Lender unconditionally agrees to indemnify the Borrower, the LC Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent and each Lender against all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be incurred by or asserted against the Borrower, the LC Issuing Banks, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, in any way relating to or arising as a consequence of any such forbearance or delay in the initiation of any such proceeding against its SPC. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that no SPC shall have the rights of a Lender hereunder, such rights being retained by the applicable Granting Lender. Accordingly, and without limiting the foregoing, each party hereby further acknowledges and agrees that no SPC shall have any voting rights hereunder and that the voting rights attributable to any Advance made by an SPC shall be exercised only by the relevant Granting Lender and that each Granting Lender shall serve as the administrative agent and attorney-in-fact for its SPC and shall on behalf of its SPC receive any and all payments made for the benefit of such SPC and take all actions hereunder to the extent, if any, such SPC shall have any rights hereunder. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of any other party hereto, assign all or a portion of its interest in any Advances to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any information relating to its Advances to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. This Section 8.07(i) may not be amended without the prior written consent of each Granting Lender, all or any part of whose Advance is being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment. SECTION 8.08. Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY NOTE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.17 SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SECTION 8.09. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. (a) To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby irrevocably (i) submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal court sitting in New York City and any appellate court from any thereof in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or in such Federal court. The Borrower hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding. The Borrower also irrevocably consents, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding by the mailing by certified mail of copies of such process to the Borrower at its address specified in Section 8.02. The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law. (b) THE BORROWER, EACH LC ISSUING BANK, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER. SECTION 8.10. Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement. SECTION 8.11. Electronic Communications. (a) The Borrower hereby agrees that, to the extent the Borrower is so able, it will provide to the Administrative Agent all information, documents and other materials that it is obligated to furnish to the Administrative Agent pursuant to this Agreement, including, without limitation, all notices, requests, financial statements, financial and other reports, certificates and other information materials, but excluding any such communication that (i) relates to a request for a new, or a conversion of an existing, borrowing or other extension of credit (including any election of an interest rate or interest period relating thereto), (ii) relates to the payment of any principal or other amount due under this Agreement prior to the scheduled date therefor, (iii) provides notice of any default or event of default under this Agreement or (iv) is required to be delivered to satisfy any condition precedent to the effectiveness of this Agreement and/or any borrowing or other extension of credit thereunder (all such non-excluded communications being referred to herein collectively as "Communications"), by transmitting the Communications in an electronic/soft medium in a format acceptable to the Administrative Agent to oploanswebadmin@citigroup.com. In addition, the Borrower agrees to continue to provide the Communications to the Administrative Agent in the manner specified in this Agreement but only to the extent requested by the Administrative Agent. To the extent Borrower is unable to deliver any portion of the Communications in an electronic/soft medium form, the Borrower shall promptly deliver hard copies of such Communications to the Administrative Agent. (b) The Borrower further agrees that the Administrative Agent may make the Communications available to the Lenders and the LC Issuing Banks by posting the Communications on Intralinks or a substantially similar electronic transmission systems (the "Platform"). The Borrower acknowledges that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. (c) THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE". THE AGENT PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON- INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE AGENT PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, ADVISORS OR REPRESENTATIVES (COLLECTIVELY, "AGENT PARTIES") HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO THE BORROWER, ANY LENDER, ANY LC ISSUING BANK OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF THE BORROWER'S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT'S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE LIABILITY OF ANY AGENT PARTY IS FOUND IN A FINAL NON-APPEALABLE JUDGMENT BY A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION TO HAVE RESULTED PRIMARILY FROM SUCH AGENT PARTY'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE OR WILLFUL MISCONDUCT. (d) The Administrative Agent agrees that the receipt of the Communications by the Administrative Agent at its e-mail address set forth above shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to the Administrative Agent for purposes of this Agreement. Each Lender and each LC Issuing Bank agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that the Communications have been posted to the Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the Communications to such Lender or such LC Issuing Bank for purposes of this Agreement. Each Lender and each LC Issuing Bank agrees to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender's or such LC Issuing Bank's e-mail address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such e-mail address. (e) Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent, any LC Issuing Bank or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to this Agreement in any other manner specified in this Agreement. [The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.] IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written. ENTERGY CORPORATION By____________________________ Steven C. McNeal Vice President and Treasurer CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, LC Issuing Bank and Bank By____________________________ Name: Title: BANKS ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as LC Issuing Bank and Bank By____________________________ Name: Title: By____________________________ Name: Title: BARCLAYS BANK PLC By____________________________ Name: Title: BAYERISCHE HYPO-UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH By____________________________ Name: Title: By____________________________ Name: Title: BNP PARIBAS By____________________________ Name: Title: By____________________________ Name: Title: CALYON NEW YORK BRANCH By____________________________ Name: Title: By____________________________ Name: Title: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON, ACTING THROUGH ITS CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH By____________________________ Name: Title: By____________________________ Name: Title: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK By____________________________ Name: Title: KBC BANK N.V. By____________________________ Name: Title: By____________________________ Name: Title: KEYBANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION By____________________________ Name: Title: LEHMAN BROTHERS BANK, FSB By____________________________ Name: Title: MELLON BANK, N.A. By____________________________ Name: Title: MIZUHO CORPORATE BANK, LTD. By____________________________ Name: Title: MORGAN STANLEY BANK By____________________________ Name: Title: REGIONS BANK By____________________________ Name: Title: SOCIETE GENERALE By____________________________ Name: Title: THE BANK OF NEW YORK By____________________________ Name: Title: THE ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND PLC By____________________________ Name: Title: UFJ BANK LIMITED By____________________________ Name: Title: UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA, N.A. By____________________________ Name: Title: WACHOVIA BANK, NA By____________________________ Name: Title: WEST LB AG, NEW YORK BRANCH By____________________________ Name: Title: By____________________________ Name: Title: SCHEDULE I LIST OF APPLICABLE LENDING OFFICES ENTERGY CORPORATION U.S. $2,000,000,000 Credit Agreement Domestic Eurodollar Name of Bank Lending Office Lending Office ___________________________________________________________ Citibank, N.A. 2 Penn's Way 2 Penn's Way Suite 200 Suite 200 New Castle, DE 19720 New Castle, DE 19720 Attn: Betsy Wier Attn: Betsy Wier Bank Loan Operations Bank Loan Operations Phone: 302-894-6025 Phone: 302-894-6025 Fax: 212-994-0961 Fax: 212-994-0961 ABN AMRO Bank N.V. 208 South LaSalle 208 South LaSalle Street Street Suite 1500 Suite 1500 Chicago, IL 60604- Chicago, IL 60604- 1003 1003 Attn: Credit Attn: Credit Administration Administration Fax: 312-992-5111 Fax: 312-992-5111 Email: Email: Melanie.dziobas@abna Melanie.dziobas@abna mro.com mro.com 4400 Post Oak 4400 Post Oak Parkway Parkway Suite 1500 Suite 1500 Houston, TX 77027 Houston, TX 77027 Attn: Scott Attn: Scott Donaldson Donaldson Fax: 832-681-7144 Fax: 832-681-7144 Email: Email: scott.donaldson@abna scott.donaldson@abna mro.com mro.com Barclays Bank PLC 200 Park Avenue 200 Park Avenue 4th Floor 4th Floor New York, NY 10166 New York, NY 10166 Bayerische Hypo-und Bayerische Hypo-und Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG, New Vereinsbank Vereinsbank York Branch AG, New York Branch AG, Grand Cayman Branch 150 East 42nd Street c/o Bayerische Hypo-und New York, NY 10017 Vereinsbank AG 150 East 42nd Street New York, NY 10017 BNP Paribas 787 Seventh Avenue 787 Seventh Avenue New York, N.Y. New York, N.Y. 10019 10019 Phone: 212-841-2000 Phone: 212-841-2000 Fax: 212-841-2555 Fax: 212-841-2555 Calyon New York 1301 Avenue of the 1301 Avenue of the Branch Americas Americas New York, NY 10019 New York, NY 10019 Credit Suisse First One Madison Avenue One Madison Avenue Boston, acting New York, NY 10010 New York, NY 10010 through its Cayman Attn: Ed Markowski Attn: Ed Markowski Islands Branch Leslie Hazel Leslie Hazel Phone: 212-538-3380 Phone: 212-538-3380 212-325-9049 212-325-9049 Fax: 212-538-6851 Fax: 212-538-6851 212-325-8317 212-325-8317 Email: Email: edward.markowski@csf edward.markowski@csf b.com/hazelleslie@cs b.com/hazelleslie@cs fb.com fb.com JPMorgan Chase Bank 1111 Fannin-10th Flr 1111 Fannin-10th Flr Houston, TX 77002 Houston, TX 77002 Attn: Jaime Garcia/ Attn: Jaime Garcia/ Sylvia Gutierrez Sylvia Gutierrez Phone: 713-750-2377 Phone: 713-750-2377 713-750-2510 713-750-2510 Fax: 713-750-6307 Fax: 713-750-6307 713-750-6307 713-750-6307 Email: Email: jaime.e.garcia@jpmor jaime.e.garcia@jpmor gan.com gan.com /sylvia.gutierrez@jp /sylvia.gutierrez@jp morgan.com morgan.com KBC Bank N.V. KBC Bank N.V. KBC Bank N.V. New York Branch New York Branch 125 West 55th Street 125 West 55th Street New York, NY 10019 New York, NY 10019 KeyBank National 127 Public Square 127 Public Square Association Mailcode: OH-01-27- Mailcode: OH-01-27- 0606 0606 Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1306 44114-1306 Lehman Brothers 745 7th Avenue, 16th 745 7th Avenue, 16th Bank, FSB Floor Floor New York, N.Y. 10019 New York, N.Y. 10019 Attn: Michael Herr Attn: Michael Herr Phone: 212-526-6560 Phone: 212-526-6560 Fax: 212-520-0450 Fax: 212-520-0450 Email: Email: mherr@lehman.com mherr@lehman.com Mellon Bank, N.A. Three Mellon Center, Three Mellon Center, Room 1203 Room 1203 Pittsburgh, PA 15259- Pittsburgh, PA 15259- 0003 0003 Attn: Brenda Leierzapf Attn: Brenda Leierzapf Phone: 412-234-8161 Phone: 412-234-8161 Fax: 412-209-6146 Fax: 412-209-6146 Mizuho Corporate 1221 McKinney Street 1221 McKinney Street Bank, Ltd. Suite 4100 Suite 4100 Houston, TX 77010 Houston, TX 77010 Morgan Stanley Bank 1585 Broadway 1585 Broadway New York N.Y. 10036 New York N.Y., 10036 Regions Bank 417 20th St. N. 417 20th St. N. Birmingham, AL 35203 Birmingham, AL 35203 Attn: Kim Hassell/ Attn: Kim Hassell/ Joanne Green Joanne Green Phone: 205-326-7038 Phone: 205-326-7038 205-326-7746 205-326-7746 Fax: 205-326-7746 Fax: 205-326-7746 205-326-7746 205-326-7746 Email: Email: kim.hassell@regions. kim.hassell@regions. com/joann.green@regi com/joann.green@regi ons.com ons.com Societe Generale 560 Lexington Avenue 560 Lexington Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 New York, N.Y. 10022 Attn: Margaret Ayala Attn: Margaret Ayala Phone: 212-278-6971 Phone: 212-278-6971 Fax: 212-278-7490 Fax: 212-278-7490 212-278-7343 212-278-7343 The Bank of New York One Wall Street One Wall Street New York, NY 10286 New York, NY 10286 Attn: Steve Attn: Steve Kalachman Kalachman Phone: 212-635-7547 Phone: 212-635-7547 Fax: 212-635-7923 Fax: 212-635-7923 The Royal Bank of 101 Park Avenue 101 Park Avenue Scotland plc 12th Floor 12th Floor New York, NY 10178 New York, NY 10178 Attn: Sheila Shaw/ Attn: Sheila Shaw/ Juanita Baird Juanita Baird Phone: 212-401-1406 Phone: 212-401-1406 1420 1420 Fax: 212-401-1336 Fax: 212-401-1336 UFJ Bank Limited Union Bank of 445 South Figueroa 445 South Figueroa California, N.A. Street Street 15th Floor 15th Floor Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles, CA 90071 90071 Wachovia Bank, NA 201 S. College St. 201 S. College St. Charlotte, NC 28244 Charlotte, NC 28244 Attn: Cynthia Rawson Attn: Cynthia Rawson Phone: 704-374-4425 Phone: 704-374-4425 Fax: 704-715-0097 Fax: 704-715-0097 Email: Email: cynthia.rawson@wacho cynthia.rawson@wacho via.com via.com West LB AG, New York 1211 Avenue of the 1211 Avenue of the Branch Americas Americas New York, NY 10036 New York, NY 10036 Attn: Cheryl Wilson Attn: Cheryl Wilson Phone: 212-852-6152 Phone: 212-852-6152 Fax: 212-302-7946 Fax: 212-302-7946 SCHEDULE II COMMITMENT SCHEDULE Name of Lender Commitment Amount _____________________________________________________________ Citibank, N.A. $170,000,000 ABN AMRO Bank N.V. $140,000,000 BNP Paribas $140,000,000 JPMorgan Chase Bank $140,000,000 The Royal Bank of Scotland plc $140,000,000 Barclays Bank PLC $100,000,000 Calyon New York Branch $100,000,000 KeyBank National Association $100,000,000 Morgan Stanley Bank $100,000,000 The Bank of New York $100,000,000 Wachovia Bank, NA $100,000,000 Credit Suisse First Boston, Cayman Islands $100,000,000 Branch Lehman Brothers Bank, FSB $75,000,000 Regions Bank $75,000,000 Societe Generale $75,000,000 Union Bank of California, N.A. $75,000,000 Bayerische Hypo-und Vereinsbank AG, New $45,000,000 York Branch Mellon Bank, N.A. $45,000,000 KBC Bank N.V. $45,000,000 Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. $45,000,000 West LB AG, New York Branch $45,000,000 UFJ Bank Limited $45,000,000 Total Commitment: $2,000,000,000 SCHEDULE 2.03(h) LETTERS OF CREDIT 1. Letter of credit number 61611082, issued by Citibank, N.A. in favor of The Power Authority of the State of New York for the account of Borrower in the amount of $20,000,000.00 with an expiration date of May 7, 2007. 2. Letter of credit number 61611083, issued by Citibank, N.A. in favor of The Power Authority of the State of New York for the account of Borrower in the amount of $20,000,000.00 with an expiration date of May 7, 2007. 3. Letter of credit number S060450, issued by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. in favor of PPL EnergyPlus, LLC for the account of Borrower in the amount of $25,000,000.00 with an expiration date of June 30, 2005. 4. Letter of credit number 61608242, issued by Citibank, N.A. in favor of St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company for the account of Borrower in the amount of $2,500,000.00 with an expiration date of December 31, 2005. EXHIBIT A-1 FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders and the LC Issuing Banks party to the Credit Agreement referred to below Two Penns Way, Suite 200 New Castle, Delaware 19720 [Date] Attention: Bank Loan Syndications Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned, Entergy Corporation, refers to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties thereto, the LC Issuing Banks and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for said Lenders and said LC Issuing Banks, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Borrowing (the "Proposed Borrowing") as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement: (i) The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is ____, 20 __. (ii) The Type of Advances to be made in connection with the Proposed Borrowing is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances]. (iii) The aggregate amount of the Proposed Borrowing is $_____. (iv) The Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the Proposed Borrowing is ___ month[s]1. The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Borrowing: _________________________ (1) Delete for Base Rate Advances. (A) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement (excluding those contained in subsections (e) and (f) thereof with respect to each Extension of Credit requested after the initial Extension of Credit) are correct,before and after giving effect to the Proposed Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and (B) no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both. Very truly yours, ENTERGY CORPORATION By ____________________________ Name: Title: EXHIBIT A-2 FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders and the LC Issuing Banks party to the Credit Agreement referred to below Two Penns Way, Suite 200 New Castle, Delaware 19720 [Date] Attention: Bank Loan Syndications Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned, Entergy Corporation, refers to the Credit Agreement, dated as of _____________________, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders party thereto, the LC Issuing Banks and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for said Lenders and said LC Issuing Banks, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.10 of the Credit Agreement, that the undersigned hereby requests a Conversion under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Conversion (the "Proposed Conversion") as required by Section 2.10 of the Credit Agreement: (i) The Business Day of the Proposed Conversion is __________, _____. (ii) The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Conversion is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances]. (iii) The aggregate amount of the Proposed Conversion is $__________. (iv) The Type of Advances to which such Advances are proposed to be Converted is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances]. (v) The Interest Period for each Advance made as part of the Proposed Conversion is ___ month(s).2 ____________________________ (2) Delete for Base Rate Advances The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Conversion: (A) The Borrower's request for the Proposed Conversion is made in compliance with Section 2.10 of the Credit Agreement; and (B) The statements contained in Section 3.02 of the Credit Agreement are true. Very truly yours, ENTERGY CORPORATION By______________________________ Name: Title: EXHIBIT A-3 FORM OF REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE [Date] Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders and the LC Issuing Banks party to the Credit Agreement referred to below Two Penns Way, Suite 200 New Castle, Delaware 19720 Ladies and Gentlemen: The undersigned, Entergy Corporation (the "Borrower"), refers to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2005 (as amended, modified, or supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, the Lenders and the LC Issuing Banks party thereto and the Administrative Agent, and hereby gives you notice, pursuant to Section 2.03 of the Credit Agreement, that the Borrower hereby requests the issuance of a Letter of Credit (the "Requested Letter of Credit") in accordance with the following terms: (i) the requested date of [issuance] [extension] [modification] [amendment] of the Requested Letter of Credit (which is a Business Day) is _____________; (ii) the expiration date of the Requested Letter of Credit requested hereby is ___________;3 (iii) the proposed stated amount of the Requested Letter of Credit is _______________;4 (iv) The beneficiary of the Requested Letter of Credit is: [insert name and address of beneficiary]; and (v) the conditions under which a drawing may be made under the Requested Letter of Credit are as follows: ___________________. _____________________________ (3) Date may not be later than the fifth Business Day prior to the Termination Date. (4) Must be minimum of $100,000. Attached hereto as Exhibit A is a consent to this requested [amendment] [modification] executed by the beneficiary of the Letter of Credit.5 Upon the issuance of the Letter of Credit by an LC Issuing Bank in response to this request, the Borrower shall be deemed to have represented and warranted that the applicable conditions to an issuance of a Letter of Credit that are specified in Article III of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied. ENTERGY CORPORATION By_______________________________ Name: Title: _____________________________ (5) Include this paragraph only if request is for modification or amendment of the Letter of Credit. EXHIBIT B FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE Dated ___________, 20__ Reference is made to the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2005 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement), Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the "Administrative Agent") and the LC Issuing Banks (the "LC Issuing Banks"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meaning. ____________ (the "Assignor") and ___________ (the "Assignee") agree as follows: (a) The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee without recourse, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, that interest in and to all of the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof which represents the percentage interest specified on Schedule 1 of all outstanding rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, such interest in the Assignor's Commitment and the Advances owing to the Assignor. After giving effect to such sale and assignment, the Assignee's Commitment and the amount of the Advances owing to the Assignee will be as set forth in Section b of Schedule 1. (b) The Assignor (i) represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (ii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (iii) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto. Except as specified in this Section b, the assignment hereunder shall be without recourse to the Assignor. (c) The Assignee (i) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (ii) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (iii) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; (iv) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender; [and] (v) specifies as its Domestic Lending Office (and address for notices) and Eurodollar Lending Office the offices set forth beneath its name on the signature pages hereof [and (vi) attaches the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States certifying that it is exempt from United States withholding taxes with respect to all payments to be made to the Assignee under the Credit Agreement].1 (d) Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance by the Assignor and the Assignee, it will be delivered to the Administrative Agent for acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent. The effective date of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be the date of acceptance thereof by the Administrative Agent, unless otherwise specified on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Effective Date"); provided, however, that in no event shall this Assignment and Acceptance become effective prior to the payment for the processing and recordation fee to the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 8.07(a) of the Credit Agreement. (e) Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent, as of the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement. (f) Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent, from and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments under the Credit Agreement in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without limitation, all payments of principal, interest and facility fees with respect thereto) to the Assignee. The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Credit Agreement for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves. (g) THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. (h) This Assignment and Acceptance may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were up on the same instrument. _______________________________ (1) If the Assignee is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written, such execution being made on Schedule 1 hereto. [NAME OF ASSIGNOR] By________________________________ Name: Title: [NAME OF ASSIGNEE] By_________________________________ Name: Title: Domestic Lending Office (and address for notices): [Address] Eurodollar Lending Office: [Address] Accepted this ___ day of ___________, 20__ CITIBANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent and LC Issuing Bank By_____________________________ Name: Title: ABN AMRO BANK N.V., as LC Issuing Bank By_____________________________ Name: Title: [[________________________], as LC Issuing Bank By____________________________ Name: Title:] Schedule 1 to Assignment and Acceptance Dated __________, 20__ Section (a) Percentage Interest: ______% Section (b) Assignee's Commitment: $______ Aggregate Outstanding Principal Amount of Advances owing $______ to the Assignee: Section (c) Effective Date1: _________, 20__ _______________________________ (1) This date should be no earlier than the date of acceptance by the Administrative Agent. EXHIBIT C FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER May 25, 2005 To each of the Lenders parties to the Credit Agreement referred to below, to Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and to the LC Issuing Banks Entergy Corporation Ladies and Gentlemen: I have acted as counsel to Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2005, by and among the Borrower, the Banks and LC Issuing Banks parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. This opinion is furnished to you at the request of the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(v) of the Credit Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein or unless the context otherwise requires, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined. In such capacity, I have examined: (i) Counterparts of the Credit Agreement, executed by the Borrower; (ii) The Certificate of Incorporation of the Borrower (the "Charter"); (iii) The Bylaws of the Borrower (the "Bylaws"); (iv) A certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated ____________, 2005, attesting to the continued corporate existence and good standing of the Borrower in that State; (v) A certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana, dated ____________, 2005, attesting that the Borrower is a foreign corporation duly qualified to conduct business in that State; (vi) A copy of the Order dated June 30, 2004 (File No. 70-10202) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (the "SEC Order"); and (vii) The other documents furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.01(a) of the Credit Agreement. I have also examined such other corporate records of the Borrower, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Borrower, and agreements, instruments and other documents, as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below. In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies. In making my examination of documents and instruments executed or to be executed by persons other than the Borrower, I have assumed that each such other person had the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform fully its obligations thereunder, the due authorization by each such other person for the execution, delivery and performance thereof and the due execution and delivery thereof by or on behalf of such person of each such document and instrument. In the case of any such person that is not a natural person, I have also assumed, insofar as it is relevant to the opinions set forth below, that each such other person is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was created, and is duly qualified and in good standing in each other jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon its ability to execute, deliver and/or perform its obligations under any such document or instrument. I have further assumed that each document, instrument, agreement, record and certificate reviewed by me for purposes of rendering the opinions expressed below has not been amended by any oral agreement, conduct or course of dealing between the parties thereto. As to questions of fact material to the opinions expressed herein, I have relied upon certificates and representations of officers of the Borrower (including but not limited to those contained in the Credit Agreement and certificates delivered upon the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement) and of appropriate public officials, without independent verification of such matters except as otherwise described herein. Whenever my opinions herein with respect to the existence or absence of facts are stated to be to my knowledge or awareness, it is intended to signify that no information has come to my attention or the attention of other counsel working under my direction in connection with the preparation of this opinion letter that would give me or them actual knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts. However, except to the extent expressly set forth herein, neither I nor they have undertaken any independent investigation to determine the existence or absence of such facts, and no inference as to my or their knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts should be assumed. On the basis of the foregoing, having regard for such legal consideration as I deem relevant, and subject to the other limitations and qualifications contained in this letter, I am of the opinion that: (a) The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the property owned, operated or leased by it requires such qualification. (b) The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not contravene (i) the Charter or the Bylaws or (ii) law, or (iii) any contractual or legal restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower. The Credit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower. (c) No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for (i) the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement, including obtaining any Extensions of Credit under the Credit Agreement, except for the filing of the Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto in File No. 70-10202 and the SEC Order, which have been obtained, are final and in full force and effect, and are not the subject of any appeal and (ii) after June 30, 2007, the performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement, including obtaining any Extensions of Credit under the Credit Agreement, except for the filing of a Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto, or the filing of amendments to File No. 70- 10202, to request, among other things, that the term of the SEC Order be extended from at least June 30, 2007 to May 25, 2010, or such later Termination Date as extended pursuant to Section 2.18 of the Credit Agreement and the New SEC Order and the SEC notice or notices related thereto, which shall have been obtained and shall be final and in full force and effect. (d) Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, there is no pending or, to the best of my knowledge, threatened action or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that reasonably could be expected to affect materially and adversely the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower or its ability to perform its obligations under the Credit Agreement, or that purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Credit Agreement. To the best of my knowledge, after inquiry, there has been no change in any matter disclosed in such filings that reasonably could be expected to result in such a material adverse effect. (e) The Borrower is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or an "investment adviser" within the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. (f) The Credit Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms. My opinions above are subject to the following qualifications: (i) My opinions are subject, as to enforceability, to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and (B) the application of general principles of equity, including but not limited to the right to have specific performance of contract obligations, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. (ii) My opinion in paragraph (a) above, insofar as it relates to the due incorporation, valid existence and good standing of the Borrower under Delaware law, is given exclusively in reliance upon a certification of the Secretary of State of Delaware, upon which I believe I am justified in relying. A copy of such certification has been provided to you. (iii) My opinion set forth in paragraph (c) above as to the obtaining of necessary governmental and regulatory approvals is based solely upon a review of those laws that, in my experience, are normally applicable to the Borrower in connection with transactions of the type contemplated by the Credit Agreement. (iv) My opinion in paragraph (f) above as to the legality, validity, binding nature and enforceability of the Credit Agreement is given in reliance upon a legal opinion of even date herewith of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, New York counsel to the Borrower, and is subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications contained therein. A copy of the legal opinion of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, is being provided to you contemporaneously herewith. Notwithstanding the qualifications set forth above, I have no actual knowledge of any matter within the scope of said qualifications that would cause me to change the opinions set forth in this letter. I am licensed to practice law only in the State of Louisiana and, except as otherwise provided herein, my role as counsel to the Borrower is limited to matters involving the laws of the State of Louisiana and the federal laws of the United States of America. Except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth herein, and except with respect to matters governed by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, I render no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction or any subdivision thereof, and have made no independent investigation into any such laws except as specifically provided herein. My opinions are expressed as of the date hereof, and I do not assume any obligation to update or supplement my opinions to reflect any fact or circumstance that hereafter comes to my attention, or any change in law that hereafter occurs. This opinion letter is being provided exclusively to and for the benefit of the addressees hereof. It is not to be furnished to or relied upon by any other party for any other purpose, without prior express written authorization from me, except that (A) Thelen Reid & Priest LLP may rely hereon in connection with their opinion to you of even date herewith on behalf of the Borrower as to matters of New York law; (B) King & Spalding LLP hereby is authorized to rely on this letter in the rendering of their opinion to the Lenders and the LC Issuing Banks dated as of the date hereof; and (C) any addressee of this letter may deliver a copy hereof to any person that becomes a Lender or an LC Issuing Bank under the Credit Agreement after the date hereof, and such person may rely on this opinion as if it had been addressed and delivered to it on the date hereof as an original Bank or LC Issuing Bank that was a party to the Credit Agreement. Very truly yours, Denise C. Redmann Assistant General Counsel EXHIBIT D OPINION OF SPECIAL NEW YORK COUNSEL TO THE AGENT May 25, 2005 To each of the Lenders parties to the Credit Agreement referred to below and to Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent Entergy Corporation Ladies and Gentlemen: We have acted as special New York counsel to Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement"), among Entergy Corporation, the Lenders and LC Issuing Banks parties thereto and Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined. In this connection, we have examined the following documents: (a) a counterpart of the Credit Agreement, executed by the parties thereto; and (b) the other documents furnished to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.01(a) of the Credit Agreement, including (without limitation) the opinion (the "Opinion") of Denise C. Redmann, counsel to the Borrower. In our examination of the documents referred to above, we have assumed the authenticity of all such documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures, the due authority of the parties executing such documents and the conformity to the originals of all such documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed that you have independently evaluated, and are satisfied with, the creditworthiness of the Borrower and the business terms reflected in the Credit Agreement. We have relied, as to factual matters, on the documents we have examined. To the extent that our opinions expressed below involve conclusions as to matters governed by law other than the law of the State of New York, we have relied upon the Opinion and have assumed without independent investigation the correctness of the matters set forth therein, our opinions expressed below being subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth in the Opinion. We note that we do not represent the Borrower and, accordingly, are not privy to the nature or character of its business. Accordingly, we have also assumed that the Borrower is subject only to statutes, rules, regulations, judgments, orders, and other requirements of law of general applicability to corporations doing business in the State of New York. Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that the Credit Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms. Our opinion is subject to the following qualifications: (i) The enforceability of the Borrower's obligations under the Credit Agreement is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar law affecting creditors' rights generally. (ii) The enforceability of the Borrower's obligations under the Credit Agreement is subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including (without limitation) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Such principles of equity are of general application, and, in applying such principles, a court, among other things, might not allow a contracting party to exercise remedies in respect of a default deemed immaterial, or might decline to order an obligor to perform covenants. (iii) We note further that, in addition to the application of equitable principles described above, courts have imposed an obligation on contracting parties to act reasonably and in good faith in the exercise of their contractual rights and remedies, and may also apply public policy considerations in limiting the right of parties seeking to obtain indemnification under circumstances where the conduct of such parties is determined to have constituted negligence. (iv) We express no opinion herein as to (A) Section 8.05 of the Credit Agreement, (B) the enforceability of provisions purporting to grant to a party conclusive rights of determination, (C) the availability of specific performance or other equitable remedies, (D) the enforceability of rights to indemnity under federal or state securities laws or (E) the enforceability of waivers by parties of their respective rights and remedies under law. (v) Our opinions expressed above are limited to the law of the State of New York, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law. The foregoing opinion is solely for your benefit and may not be relied upon by any other person or entity, other than any Person that may become a Lender or LC Issuing Bank under the Credit Agreement after the date hereof. Very truly yours, EX-4 4 a4e.htm

Exhibit 4(e)


ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.

to

THE BANK OF NEW YORK

(successor to Harris Trust Company of New York and Bank of Montreal Trust Company)

And

STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO

(successor to Mark F. McLaughlin and Z. George Klodnicki)

As Trustees under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust,

dated as of May 1, 1987 of Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Providing among other things for

First Mortgage Bonds,

4.98% Series due July 1, 2010

(Eighteenth Series)

Dated as of June 1, 2005

 

FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of June 1, 2005, between ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC., a corporation of the State of Louisiana, whose post office address is 1600 Perdido Street, Building 505, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 (the "Company") and THE BANK OF NEW YORK (successor to Harris Trust Company of New York and Bank of Montreal Trust Company), a New York banking corporation, whose principal corporate trust office is located at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West, New York, New York 10286 and STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO (successor to Mark F. McLaughlin and Z. George Klodnicki), whose address is 63 Euclid Avenue, Massapequa, New York 11758, as trustees under the Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of May 1, 1987, executed and delivered by the Company (herein called the "Original Indenture"; the Original Indenture and any and all indentures and instruments supplemental thereto being herein called the "Indenture");

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture has been duly recorded and filed as required in the State of Louisiana simultaneously with the recording and filing of the First Supplemental Indenture thereto, dated as of May 1, 1987, between the Company and BANK OF MONTREAL TRUST COMPANY (The Bank of New York, successor) and Z. GEORGE KLODNICKI (Stephen J. Giurlando, successor), as trustees (herein called the "First Supplemental Indenture"); and

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture was recorded in various Parishes in the State of Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered to the Trustees (such term and all other defined terms used herein and not defined herein having the respective definitions to which reference is made in Article I below) its Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 1, 1988, its Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1993, its Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 1, 1993, its Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 1, 1995, its Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of March 1, 1996, its Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 1998 (the "Seventh Supplemental Indenture"), its Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2000 (the "Eighth Supplemental Indenture"), its Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 1, 2001, its Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2002, its Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 1, 2003, its Twelfth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 1, 2004, and its Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 15, 2004 (the "Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture"), each as a supplement to the Original Indenture, which Supplemental Indentures have been duly recorded in various Parishes in the State of Louisiana, which Parishes are the same Parishes in which this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture is to be recorded; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of March 18, 1999, Harris Trust Company of New York merged into Bank of Montreal Trust Company, Trustee under the Indenture, and effective July 1, 1999, the combined entity changed its name to Harris Trust Company of New York, and, by virtue of Section 9.03 of the Original Indenture, Harris Trust Company of New York became successor Trustee under the Indenture, without execution of any paper or the performance of any further act on the part of any other parties to the Indenture; and

WHEREAS, effective July 15, 2000, Harris Trust Company of New York and Mark F. McLaughlin resigned as Trustee and Co-Trustee, respectively, under the Indenture, and by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, the Company appointed The Bank of New York and Stephen J. Giurlando as successor Trustee and successor Co-Trustee, respectively, effective July 15, 2000, and The Bank of New York and Stephen J. Giurlando accepted said respective appointments; and

WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore issued, in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, the following series of bonds:

Series

Principal Amount

Issued

Principal Amount

Outstanding

10.95% Series due May 1, 1997

$75,000,000

None

13.20% Series due February 1, 1991

1,400,000

None

13.60% Series due February 1, 1993

29,400,000

None

13.90% Series due February 1, 1995

9,200,000

None

7% Series due March 1, 2003

25,000,000

None

8% Series due March 1, 2023

45,000,000

None

7.55% Series due September 1, 2023

30,000,000

None

8.67% Series due April 1, 2005

30,000,000

None

8% Series due March 1, 2006

40,000,000

None

7% Series due July 15, 2008

30,000,000

None

8.125% Series due July 15, 2005

30,000,000

30,000,000

6.65% Series due March 1, 2004

30,000,000

None

6.75% Series due October 15, 2017

25,000,000

25,000,000

3.875% Series due August 1, 2008

30,000,000

 

30,000,000

 
5.25% Series due August 1, 2013

70,000,000

 

70,000,000

 
5.65% Series due September 1, 2029

40,000,000

 

40,000,000

 
5.60% Series due September 1, 2024

35,000,000

 

35,000,000

 

; and

WHEREAS, Section 19.04 of the Original Indenture provides, among other things, that any power, privilege or right expressly or impliedly reserved to or in any way conferred upon the Company by any provision of the Indenture, whether such power, privilege or right is in any way restricted or is unrestricted, may be in whole or in part waived or surrendered or subjected to any restriction if at the time unrestricted, or to additional restriction if already restricted, and the Company may enter into any further covenants, limitations, restrictions or provisions for the benefit of any one or more series of bonds issued thereunder, or the Company may establish the terms and provisions of any series of bonds by an instrument in writing executed and acknowledged by the Company in such manner as would be necessary to entitle a conveyance of real estate to be recorded in all of the states in which any property at the time subject to the Lien of the Indenture shall be situated; and

WHEREAS, the Company desires to create a new series of bonds under the Indenture and to add to its covenants and agreements contained in the Indenture certain other covenants and agreements to be observed by it; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal instrument have been performed, and the issue of said series of bonds, subject to the terms of the Indenture, has been in all respects duly authorized;

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FOURTEENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH: That ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC., in consideration of the premises and of Ten Dollars ($10) to it duly paid by the Trustee at or before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, and in order to secure the payment of both the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on the bonds from time to time issued under the Indenture, according to their tenor and effect and the performance of all provisions of the Indenture (including any modification made as in the Indenture provided) and of said bonds, hath granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, hypothecated, affected, pledged, set over and confirmed and granted a security interest in, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, release, convey, assign, transfer, mortgage, hypothecate, affect, pledge, set over and confirm and grant a security interest in (subject, however, to Excepted En cumbrances as defined in Section 1.06 of the Original Indenture), unto STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold the same for the purpose hereof) to THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustees under the Indenture, and to their successor or successors in said trust, and to said Trustees and their successors and assigns forever (1) all rights, legal and equitable, of the Company (whether in accordance with Paragraph 32 of that certain Resolution No. R-86-112, adopted by the Council of the City of New Orleans on March 20, 1986 and accepted by the Company on March 25, 1986, as superseded by Resolution No. R-91-157, effective October 4, 1991, or pursuant to other regulatory authorization or by operation of law or otherwise), in the event of the purchase and acquisition by the City of New Orleans (or any other governmental authority or instrumentality or designee thereof) of properties and assets of the Company, to recover and receive payment and compensation from the City (or from such other gov ernmental authority or instrumentality or designee thereof or any other person) of an amount equal to the aggregate uncollected balance of (A) the deferrals of Grand Gulf 1 Costs (as defined in the Original Indenture) and the deferred carrying charges accrued thereon that have accumulated prior to the City or such other entity providing official notice to the Company of the City's or such other entity's intent to effect such purchase and acquisition and (B) if and to the extent that the City or such other entity and the Company agree that the City or such other entity is liable for all or a portion of the aggregate uncollected balance of such deferrals accumulating thereafter or a court of final resort so holds, such deferrals that have accumulated subsequent to such notice (said rights of the Company, together with the proceeds and products thereof, being defined in the Original Indenture as the "Municipalization Interest"); and (2) all properties of the Company, real, personal and mixed, of the k ind or nature described or mentioned in the Original Indenture; and (3) all properties of the Company specifically described in Article VI hereof and all other properties of the Company, real, personal and mixed, of the kind or nature specifically mentioned in the Original Indenture or of any other kind or nature acquired by the Company on or after the date of the execution and delivery of the Original Indenture (except any herein or in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted), now owned or, subject to the provisions of Section 15.03 of the Original Indenture, hereafter acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) and wheresoever situated, including (without in anywise limiting or impairing by the enumeration of the same, the scope and intent of the foregoing or of any general description contained herein or in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented), all real estate, lands, easements, servitudes, licenses, permits, franchises, privileges, rights of way and other rights in or relating to real estate or the occupancy of the same; all power sites, flowage rights, water rights, water locations, water appropriations, ditches, flumes, reservoirs, reservoir sites, canals, raceways, waterways, dams, dam sites, aqueducts, and all other rights or means for appropriating, conveying, storing and supplying water; all rights of way and roads; all plants for the generation of electricity by steam, water and/or other power; all power houses, gas plants, street lighting systems, standards and other equipment incidental thereto; all telephone, radio and television systems, air-conditioning systems, and equipment incidental thereto, water wheels, water works, water systems, steam heat and hot water plants, substations, electric, gas and water lines, service and supply systems, bridges, culverts, tracks, ice or refrigeration plants and equipment, offices, buildings and other structures and the equipment thereof; all ma chinery, engines, boilers, dynamos, turbines, electric, gas and other machines, prime movers, regulators, meters, transformers, generators (including, but not limited to, engine driven generators and turbogenerator units), motors, electrical, gas and mechanical appliances, conduits, cables, water, steam heat, gas or other pipes, gas mains and pipes, service pipes, fittings, valves and connections, pole and transmission lines, towers, overhead conductors and devices, underground conduits, underground conductors and devices, wires, cables, tools, implements, apparatus, storage battery equipment, and all other fixtures and presently; all municipal and other franchises, consents or permits; all lines for the transmission and distribution of electric current, gas, steam heat or water for any purpose including towers, poles, wires, cables, pipes, conduits, ducts and all apparatus for use in connection therewith and (except as herein or in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted) all the rights, title and interest of the Company in and to all other property of any kind or nature appertaining to and/or used and/or occupied and/or enjoyed in connection with any property herein or in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented, described.

TOGETHER WITH all and singular the tenements, hereditaments, prescriptions, servitudes and appurtenances belonging or in anywise appertaining to the aforesaid property or any part thereof, with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders and (subject to the provisions of Section 11.01 of the Original Indenture) the tolls, rents, revenues, issues, earnings, income, product and profits thereof, and all the estate, right, title and interest and claim whatsoever, at law as well as in equity, which the Company now has or may hereafter acquire in and to the aforesaid property, rights and franchises and every part and parcel thereof.

IT IS HEREBY AGREED by the Company that, subject to the provisions of Section 15.03 of the Original Indenture, all the property, rights and franchises acquired by the Company (by purchase, consolidation, merger, donation, construction, erection or in any other way) after the date hereof, except any herein or in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented, expressly excepted, shall be and are as fully granted and conveyed hereby and as fully embraced within the Lien of the Original Indenture and the Lien hereof as if such property, rights and franchises were now owned by the Company and were specifically described herein and granted and conveyed hereby.

PROVIDED that, except as provided herein and in the Original Indenture with respect to the Municipalization Interest, the following are not and are not intended to be now or hereafter granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, hypothecated, affected, pledged, set over or confirmed hereunder, nor is a security interest therein hereby or by the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented, granted or intended to be granted, and the same are hereby expressly excepted from the Lien of the Indenture and the operation of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, viz.: (1) cash, shares of stock, bonds, notes and other obligations and other securities not heretofore or hereafter specifically pledged, paid, deposited, delivered or held hereunder or covenanted so to be; (2) merchandise, equipment, apparatus, materials or supplies held for the purpose of sale or other disposition in the usual course of business or for the purpose of repairing or replacing (in who le or part) any rolling stock, buses, motor coaches, automobiles and other vehicles or aircraft or boats, ships, or other vessels and any fuel, oil and similar materials and supplies consumable in the operation of any of the properties of the Company; rolling stock, buses, motor coaches, automobiles and other vehicles and all aircraft; boats, ships and other vessels; all timber, minerals, mineral rights and royalties; (3) bills, notes and other instruments and accounts receivable, judgments, demands, general intangibles and chooses in action, and all contracts, leases and operating agreements not specifically pledged hereunder or under the Original Indenture or covenanted so to be; (4) the last day of the term of any lease or leasehold which may hereafter become subject to the Lien of the Indenture; (5) electric energy, gas, water, steam, ice, and other materials or products generated, manufactured, produced or purchased by the Company for sale, distribution or use in the ordinary course of its business; (6) any natural gas wells or natural gas leases or natural gas transportation lines or other works or property used primarily and principally in the production of natural gas or its transportation, primarily for the purpose of sale to natural gas customers or to a natural gas distribution or pipeline company, up to the point of connection with any distribution system; and (7) the Company's franchise to be a corporation; provided, however, that the property and rights expressly excepted from the Lien and operation of the Indenture in the above subdivisions (2) and (3) shall (to the extent permitted by law) cease to be so excepted in the event and as of the date that either or both of the Trustees or a receiver or trustee shall enter upon and take possession of the Mortgaged and Pledged Property in the manner provided in Article XII of the Original Indenture by reason of the occurrence of a Default.

TO HAVE AND TO HOLD all such properties, real, personal and mixed, granted, bargained, sold, released, conveyed, assigned, transferred, mortgaged, hypothecated, affected, pledged, set over or confirmed or in which a security interest has been granted by the Company as aforesaid, or intended so to be (subject, however, to Excepted Encumbrances as defined in Section 1.06 of the Original Indenture), unto STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO and (to the extent of its legal capacity to hold the same for the purposes hereof) to THE BANK OF NEW YORK, and their successors and assigns forever.

IN TRUST NEVERTHELESS, for the same purposes and upon the same terms, trusts and conditions and subject to and with the same provisos and covenants as are set forth in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented, this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture being supplemental thereto.

AND IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED by the Company that all the terms, conditions, provisos, covenants and provisions contained in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented, shall affect and apply to the property hereinbefore and hereinafter described and conveyed and to the estate, rights, obligations and duties of the Company and the Trustees and the beneficiaries of the trust with respect to said property, and to the Trustees and their successors as Trustees of said property in the same manner and with the same effect as if said property had been owned by the Company at the time of the execution of the Original Indenture and had been specifically and at length described in and conveyed to said Trustees by the Original Indenture as a part of the property therein stated to be conveyed.

The Company further covenants and agrees to and with the Trustees and their successor or successors in said trust under the Indenture, as follows:

    ARTICLE I
     

DEFINITIONS AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION

Section 1.01        Terms From the Original Indenture and First through Thirteenth Supplemental Indentures. Except as set forth in Section 1.02 below, all defined terms used in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and not otherwise defined herein shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Original Indenture or the First through the Thirteenth Supplemental Indentures, as the case may be.

Section 1.02        Certain Defined Terms. As used in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, the following defined terms shall have the respective meanings specified unless the context clearly requires otherwise:

The term "Adjusted Treasury Rate" shall mean, with respect to any redemption date:

(1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three months before or after July 1, 2006, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue shall be determined and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month); or

(2) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date for the Adjusted Treasury Rate or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

The Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the redemption date.

The term "Bonds of the Eighteenth Series" shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

The term "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee is closed for business.

The term "Comparable Treasury Issue" shall mean the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to July 1, 2006 that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to July 1, 2006.

The term "Comparable Treasury Price" shall mean, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations or (ii) if the Independent Investment Banker obtains fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations.

The term "Independent Investment Banker" shall mean one of the Reference Treasury Dealers that the Company appoints to act as the Independent Investment Banker from time to time, or, if any of such firms is unwilling or unable to select the Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of national standing appointed by the Company.

The term "Reference Treasury Dealer" shall mean (i) Lehman Brothers Inc. and its successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Independent Investment Banker after consultation with the Company.

The term "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" shall mean, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such redemption date.

Section 1.03        References are to Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references herein to "Articles", "Sections" and other subdivisions refer to the corresponding Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, and the words "herein", "hereof", "hereby", "hereunder" and words of similar import refer to this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision hereof or to the Original Indenture or any other supplemental indenture thereto.

Section 1.04.        Number and Gender. Unless the context otherwise requires, defined terms in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular. The use of a word of any gender shall include all genders.

ARTICLE II

THE Eighteenth SERIES

Section 2.01        Bonds of the Eighteenth Series. Pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Original Indenture, there shall be a series of bonds designated 4.98% Series due July 1, 2010 (herein sometimes referred to as the "Bonds of the Eighteenth Series"), each of which shall also bear the descriptive title "First Mortgage Bond". The form of Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto. Bonds of the Eighteenth Series (which shall be issued in the aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000) shall mature on July 1, 2010 and shall be issued only as fully registered bonds in denominations of One Thousand Dollars and, at the option of the Company, in any multiple or multiples thereof (the exercise of such option to be evidenced by the execution and delivery thereof). Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall bear interest at the rate of four and ninety eight hundredths percent (4.98%) per annum (except as hereinafter provided), payable semi-annually on January 1 and July 1 o f each year, and at maturity or earlier redemption, the first interest payment to be made on January 1, 2006 for the period from the date of original issuance of the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series to January 1, 2006; the principal and interest on each said bond to be payable at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, payable in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts. Interest on Bonds of the Eighteenth Series may at the option of the Company be paid by check mailed to the registered owners thereof. Overdue principal and (to the extent permitted by law) overdue interest in respect of Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall bear interest (before and after judgment) at the rate of five and ninety eight hundredths percent (5.98%) per annum. Interest on the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest on Bonds of the Eighteenth Series in respect of a portion of a month shall be calculated based on the actual number of days elapsed. In any case where any interest payment date, redemption date or maturity of any Bond of the Eighteenth Series shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, with the same force and effect, and in the same amount, as if made on the corresponding interest payment date or redemption date, or at maturity, as the case may be, and, if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day, no interest shall accrue on the amounts so payable for the period from and after such interest payment date, redemption date or maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day.

The Company reserves the right to establish at any time, by Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, a form of coupon bond, and of appurtenant coupons, for the Eighteenth Series and to provide for exchangeability of such coupon bonds with the bonds of said Series issued hereunder in fully registered form and to make all appropriate provisions for such purpose.

Section 2.02        Redemption of Bonds of the Eighteenth Series. (a) Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall be redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon notice mailed to each registered owner at his last address appearing on the registry books not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, (i) at any time prior to July 1, 2006, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (A) 101% of the principal amount of such Bonds of the Eighteenth Series to be redeemed and (B) as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, the sum of (x) the present value of the payment on July 1, 2006 of the principal amount of such Bonds of the Eighteenth Series to be redeemed plus (y) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of interest on such Bonds of the Eighteenth Series to be redeemed to July 1, 2006 (excluding the portion of any such interest accrued to such redemption date), discounted (for purposes of determining such present values) to the redem ption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate plus 0.20%, and (b) at any time on or after July 1, 2006, prior to maturity of the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series, at a redemption price equal to 101% of the principal amount of such Bonds of the Eighteenth Series to be redeemed, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

(b) Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall also be redeemable, at the option of the holders thereof, as provided in Section 3.04 of the First Supplemental Indenture, as heretofore and hereby amended.

(c) Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall also be redeemable as follows:

Should all or substantially all of the Mortgaged and Pledged Property be taken by the City of New Orleans or any instrumentality or designee thereof by the exercise of the power of eminent domain or taken by the exercise by the City of New Orleans or any instrumentality or designee thereof of the right to purchase or otherwise acquire the same, or should such Mortgaged and Pledged Property be voluntarily sold, transferred or otherwise conveyed to the City of New Orleans or such instrumentality or designee thereof, then, in any such event, the Company shall, upon the consummation of such taking, sale, transfer or other conveyance (in any case whether or not the Lien of the Indenture is released with respect to such Mortgaged and Pledged Property), immediately request the Trustee to take, and upon receipt of such request the Trustee shall take, all requisite action to prepare (in consultation with the Company) and to mail written notice thereof to each registered holder of any Outstanding Bo nd of the Eighteenth Series, at his last address appearing upon the registry books, such notice (hereinafter referred to in this Section 2.02(c) as the "Trustee's Special Notice"), to state that it is given pursuant to this Section 2.02(c) of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and that the holder of any Bond or Bonds of the Eighteenth Series then Outstanding shall have the right to require the Company to redeem such Bond or Bonds of the Eighteenth Series, in whole or in part, on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter in this Section 2.02(c) set forth.

Upon the mailing of the Trustee's Special Notice, the holder of any Bonds of the Eighteenth Series then Outstanding may, within forty-five (45) days from the date of the Trustee's Special Notice, give the Trustee written notice of such holder's intent to have his Bond or Bonds of the Eighteenth Series redeemed by the Company on the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of the Trustee's Special Notice, upon delivery and surrender of such Bond or Bonds of the Eighteenth Series accompanied by such documentation as the Trustee or the Company may require. Unless on or prior to the forty-fifth (45th) day following the date of the Trustee's Special Notice, such holder shall have, by further written notice to the Trustee, withdrawn or revoked such written notice of intent to have his Bond or Bonds of the Eighteenth Series so redeemed, the Company shall, on the sixtieth (60th) day following the date of the Trustee's Special Notice, redeem any such Bond or Bonds of the Eighteenth Series that are properly delivered and surrendered for that purpose at the special redemption price of 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

Section 2.03     Transfer and Exchange. At the option of the registered owner, any Bonds of the Eighteenth Series, upon surrender thereof for cancellation at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, shall be exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of bonds of the same series of other authorized denominations.

Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall be transferable, upon the surrender thereof for cancellation, together with a written instrument of transfer in form approved by the registrar duly executed by the registered owner or by his duly authorized attorney, at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York.

Upon any such exchange or transfer of Bonds of the Eighteenth Series, the Company may make a charge therefor sufficient to reimburse it for any tax or taxes or other governmental charge, as provided in Section 2.05 of the Original Indenture, but the Company hereby waives any right to make a charge in addition thereto for any such exchange or transfer of Bonds of the Eighteenth Series.

Section 2.04.     Dating of Bonds and Interest Payments. (a) Each Bond of the Eighteenth Series shall be dated as of the date of authentication and shall bear interest from the last preceding interest payment date to which interest shall have been paid (unless the date of such bond is an interest payment date to which interest is paid, in which case from the date of such bond); provided that each Bond of the Eighteenth Series dated prior to January 1, 2006 shall bear interest from the date of original issuance thereof; and provided, further, that if any Bond of the Eighteenth Series shall be authenticated and delivered upon a transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, any other Bond or Bonds of the Eighteenth Series upon which interest is in default, it shall be dated so that such bond shall bear interest from the last preceding date to which interest shall have been paid on the bond or bonds in respect of which such bond shall have been delivered or fro m its date of original issuance, if no interest shall have been paid on the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall be dated so that the person in whose name any Bond of the Eighteenth Series is registered at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding an interest payment date shall be entitled to receive the interest payable on the interest payment date notwithstanding the cancellation of such bond upon any transfer or exchange thereof subsequent to such close of business and prior to such interest payment date, except if, and to the extent that, the Company shall default in the payment of interest due on such interest payment date, in which case such defaulted interest shall be paid to the persons in whose names Outstanding Bonds of the Eighteenth Series are registered at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding the date of payment of such defaulted interest. Any Bond of the Eighteenth Series issued upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to such close of business and prior to such in terest payment date shall bear interest from such interest payment date. In the event there shall be more than one registered owner of Bonds of the Eighteenth Series, then the Company shall not be required to make transfers or exchanges of bonds of said series for a period of fifteen (15) days immediately preceding any interest payment date of said series.

ARTICLE III

OTHER PROVISIONS FOR RETIREMENT OF BONDS

Section 3.01        Exchange or Redemption upon Merger or Consolidation. The second sentence of subsection (a) of Section 3.04 of the First Supplemental Indenture, as amended and restated by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, and as subsequently amended, is hereby further amended to insert the following words immediately after the words "the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture":

", shall (as to the New LP&L Bonds being exchanged for the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series) be subject to redemption at the option of the Company on terms similar to those provided in the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture,"

Section 3.02       Redemption Price upon Merger or Consolidation. The redemption price for any Bonds of the Eighteenth Series redeemed pursuant to subsection (b) of Section 3.04 of the First Supplemental Indenture, as amended and restated by the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, and as subsequently amended, shall be equal to the principal amount of the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS

Section 4.01        Maintenance of Paying Agency. So long as any Bonds of the Eighteenth Series are Outstanding, the Company covenants that the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, where the principal of or interest on any bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall be payable, shall also be an office or agency where any such bonds may be transferred or exchanged and where notices, presentations or demands to or upon the Company in respect of such bonds or in respect of the Indenture may be given or made.

Section 4.02        Further Assurances. From time to time whenever reasonably requested by the Trustee or the holders of a majority in principal amount of Bonds of the Eighteenth Series then Outstanding, the Company will make, execute and deliver or cause to be made, executed and delivered any and all such further and other instruments and assurances as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out the intention of or to facilitate the performance of the terms of the Indenture or to secure the rights and remedies of the holders of such bonds.

Section 4.03        Limitation on Restricted Payments. (a) So long as any Bonds of the Eighteenth Series are Outstanding, the Company covenants that it will not declare any dividends on its common stock (other than (1) a dividend payable solely in shares of its common stock or (2) a dividend payable in cash in cases where, concurrently with the payment of such dividend, an amount in cash equal to such dividend is received by the Company as a capital contribution or as the proceeds of the issue and sale of shares of its common stock) or make any distribution on outstanding shares of its common stock or purchase or otherwise acquire for value any outstanding shares of its common stock (otherwise than in exchange for or out of the proceeds from the sale of other shares of its common stock) unless after such dividend, distribution, purchase or acquisition, the aggregate amount of such dividends, distributions, purchases and acquisitions paid or made subsequent to May 31, 2005 (other than any dividend declared by the Compan y on or before May 31, 2005) does not exceed (without giving effect to (1) any such dividends, distributions, purchases or acquisitions or (2) any net transfers from earned surplus to stated capital accounts) the sum of (A) the aggregate amount credited subsequent to May 31, 2005, to earned surplus, (B) $150,000,000 and (C) such additional amounts as shall be authorized or approved, upon application by the Company and, after notice, by the SEC under the Holding Company Act.

For the purpose of this Section 4.03, the aggregate amount credited subsequent to May 31, 2005, to earned surplus shall be determined in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles and practices (or, if in the opinion of the Company's independent public accountants (delivered to the Trustee) there is an absence of any such generally accepted accounting principles and practices as to the determination in question, then in accordance with sound accounting practices) and after making provision for dividends upon any preferred stock of the Company accumulated subsequent to such date, and in addition there shall be deducted from earned surplus all amounts (without duplication) of losses, write-offs, write-downs or amortization of property, whether extraordinary or otherwise, recorded in and applicable to a period or periods subsequent to May 31, 2005.

ARTICLE V

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 5.01        Acceptance of Trusts. The Trustees hereby accept the trusts herein declared, provided, created or supplemented and agree to perform the same upon the terms and conditions herein and in the Original Indenture, as heretofore supplemented, set forth and upon the following terms and conditions:

The Trustees shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are solely made by the Company. In general, each and every term and condition contained in Article XVI of the Original Indenture shall apply to and form part of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture with the same force and effect as if the same were herein set forth in full with such omissions, variations and insertions, if any, as may be appropriate to make the same conform to the provisions of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

Section 5.02        Effect of Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture under Louisiana Law. It is the intention and it is hereby agreed that so far as concerns that portion of the Mortgaged and Pledged Property situated within the State of Louisiana, the general language of conveyance contained in this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture is intended and shall be construed as words of hypothecation and not of conveyance, and that so far as the said Louisiana property is concerned, this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall be considered as an act of mortgage and pledge and granting of a security interest under the laws of the State of Louisiana, and the Trustees herein named are named as mortgagee and pledge and secured parties in trust for the benefit of themselves and of all present and future holders of bonds issued under the Indenture and any coupons thereto issued hereunder, and are irrevocably appointed special agents and representatives of the holders of such bonds and coupons and vested with full power in their behalf t o effect and enforce the mortgage and pledge and a security interest hereby constituted for their benefit, or otherwise to act as herein provided for.


Section 5.03        Record Date. The holders of the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series shall be deemed to have consented and agreed that the Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series entitled to consent, if any such consent is required, to any amendment or supplement to the Indenture or the waiver of any provision thereof or any act to be performed thereunder. If a record date is fixed, those persons who were holders of the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to consent to such amendment, supplement or waiver or to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be holders of the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date.

Section 5.04     Titles. The titles of the several Articles and Sections of this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture shall not be deemed to be any part hereof.

Section 5.05     Counterparts. This Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

Section 5.06     Governing Law. The laws of the State of New York shall govern this Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture and the Bonds of the Eighteenth Series, except to the extent that the validity or perfection of the Lien of the Indenture, or remedies thereunder, are governed by the laws of a jurisdiction other than the State of New York.

ARTICLE VI

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY

PARAGRAPH ONE

The Electric Generating Plants, Plant Sites and Stations of the Company, including all electric works, power houses, buildings, pipelines and structures owned by the Company and all land of the Company on which the same are situated and all of the Company's lands, together with the buildings and improvements thereon, and all rights, ways, servitudes, prescriptions, and easements, rights-of-way, permits, privileges, licenses, poles, wires, machinery, implements, switchyards, electric lines, equipment and appurtenances, forming a part of said plants, sites or stations, or any of them, or used or enjoyed, or capable of being used or enjoyed in conjunction with any of said power plants, sites, stations, lands and property.

PARAGRAPH TWO

The Electric Substations, Switching Stations, Microwave installations and UHF-VHF installations of the Company, and the Sites therefor, including all buildings, structures, towers, poles, all equipment, appliances and devices for transforming, converting, switching, transmitting and distributing electric energy, and for communications, and the lands of the Company on which the same are situated, and all of the Company's lands, rights, ways, servitudes, prescriptions, easements, rights-of-way, machinery, equipment, appliances, devices, licenses and appurtenances forming a part of said substations, switching stations, microwave installations or UHF-VHF installations, or any of them, or used or enjoyed or capable of being used or enjoyed in conjunction with any of them.

PARAGRAPH THREE

All and singular the Miscellaneous Lands and Real Estate or Rights and Interests therein of the Company, and buildings and improvements thereon, now owned, or, subject to the provisions of Section 15.03 of the Original Indenture, hereafter acquired during the existence of this trust.

PARAGRAPH FOUR

The Electric Transmission Lines of the Company, including the structures, towers, poles, wires, cables, switch racks, conductors, transformers, insulators, pipes, conduits, electric submarine cables, and all appliances, devices and equipment used or useful in connection with said transmission lines and systems, and all other property, real, personal or mixed, forming a part thereof or appertaining thereto, together with all rights-of-way, easements, prescriptions, servitudes, permits, privileges, licenses, consents, immunities and rights for or relating to the construction, maintenance or operation thereof, through, over, across, under or upon any public streets or highways or other lands, public or private.

PARAGRAPH FIVE

The Electric Distribution Lines and Systems of the Company, including the structures, towers, poles, wires, insulators and appurtenances, appliances, conductors, conduits, cables, transformers, meters, regulator stations and regulators, accessories, devices and equipment and all of the Company's other property, real, personal or mixed, forming a part of or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with or in anywise appertaining to said distribution lines and systems, together with all of the Company's rights-of-way, easements, permits, prescriptions, privileges, municipal or other franchises, licenses, consents, immunities and rights for or relating to the construction, maintenance or operation thereof, through, over, across, under, or upon any public streets or highways or other lands or property, public or private.

PARAGRAPH SIX

The Gas Distributing Systems of the Company, whether now owned or, subject to the provisions of Section 15.03 of the Original Indenture, hereafter acquired, including gas regulator stations, gas main crossings, odorizing equipment, gas metering stations, shops, service buildings, office buildings, expansion tanks, conduits, gas mains and pipes, mechanical storage sheds, boilers, service pipes, fittings, city gates, pipelines, booster stations, reducer stations, valves, valve platforms, connections, meters and all appurtenances, appliances, devices and equipment and all the Company's other property, real, personal or mixed forming a part of or used, occupied or enjoyed in connection with or in anywise appertaining to said distributing systems, or any of them, together with all of the Company's rights-of-way, easements, prescriptions, servitudes, privileges, immunities, permits and franchises, licenses, consents and rights for or relating to the construction, maintenance or operation thereo f, in, on, through, across or under any public streets or highways or other lands or property, public or private.

PARAGRAPH SEVEN

All of the franchises, privileges, permits, grants and consents for the construction, operation and maintenance of electric and gas systems in, on and under streets, alleys, highways, roads, public grounds and rights-of-way and all rights incident thereto which were granted by the governing and regulatory bodies of the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana.

Also all other franchises, privileges, permits, grants and consents owned or hereafter acquired by the Company for the construction, operation and maintenance of electric and gas systems in, on or under the streets, alleys, highways, roads, and public grounds, areas and rights-of-way and/or for the supply and sale of electricity or natural gas and all rights incident thereto, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 15.03 of the Original Indenture.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC. has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by its President or one of its Vice Presidents, and its corporate seal to be attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries for and on its behalf, and THE BANK OF NEW YORK has caused its corporate name to be hereunto affixed, and this instrument to be signed and sealed by one of its Vice Presidents or Assistant Vice Presidents and its corporate seal to be attested by one of its Vice Presidents, Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Secretaries for and on its behalf, and STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO has hereunto set his hand, all as of the day and year first above written.

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.

By:/s/ Steven C. McNeal
Steven C. McNeal
Vice President and Treasurer

Attest:

/s/ Christopher T. Screen
Christopher T. Screen
Assistant Secretary

Executed, sealed and delivered by
ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
in the presence of:

/s/ Shannon K. Ryerson
Shannon K. Ryerson

 

/s/ Christina Edwards
Christina Edwards

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK
As Trustee

By: /s/ Robert A. Massimillo

Attest:

/s/ Kisha Holder
Vice President

/s/ Stephen J. Giurlando
STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO,
As Co-Trustee

Executed, sealed and delivered by
THE BANK OF NEW YORK and
STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO
in the presence of:

 

/s/ Ada L. Li
 

/s/ Eunice Kim

 

 

STATE OF LOUISIANA     )
                                             ) SS.:
PARISH OF ORLEANS      )

On this 17th day of June, 2005, before me appeared Steven C. McNeal, to me personally known, who, being duly sworn, did say that he is the Vice President and Treasurer of ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC., and that the seal affixed to said instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation and that the foregoing instrument was signed and sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors, and said Steven C. McNeal acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

On the 17th day of June, 2005, before me personally came Steven C. McNeal, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at 8043 Winners Circle, Mandeville, Louisiana 70448; that he is the Vice President and Treasurer of ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC., one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like order.

 

/s/ Jennifer B. Favalora               
Jennifer B. Favalora
Notary Public (ID # 57639)
Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana Commission Issued for Life

STATE OF NEW YORK
                                                } ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK

On this 10th day of June, 2005, before me appeared Robert a. massimillo to me personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did say that he is a Vice President of THE BANK OF NEW YORK, and that the seal affixed to the above instrument is the corporate seal of said corporation and that said instrument was signed and sealed in behalf of said corporation by authority of its Board of Directors, and said ROBERT A. MASSIMILLO acknowledged said instrument to be the free act and deed of said corporation.

On the 10th day of June, 2005, before me personally came ROBERT A. MASSIMILLO , to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he resides at 87 Brandis Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10312; that he is a Vice President of THE BANK OF NEW YORK, one of the corporations described in and which executed the above instrument; that he knows the seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal, that it was so affixed by order of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like order.

/s/ William J. Cassels

Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01CA5027729
Qualified in Bronx County
Commission Expires May 18, 2006

 

STATE OF NEW YORK
                                                } ss.:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK

On this 10th day of June, 2005, before me appeared STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same as his free act and deed.

On the 10th day of June, 2005, before me personally came STEPHEN J. GIURLANDO, to me known to be the person described in and who executed the foregoing instrument, and acknowledged that he executed the same.

/s/ William J. Cassels

Notary Public, State of New York
No. 01CA5027729
Qualified in Bronx County
Commission Expires May 18, 2006
 

EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF BOND OF THE EIGHTEENTH SERIES]
[(See legend at the end of this bond for
restrictions on transferability and change of form)]

FIRST MORTGAGE BOND,
4.98% Series due July 1, 2010

CUSIP No. 29364P AL 7

No. R- 1                                                                                                                                                                                              $30,000,000

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Louisiana (the "Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or registered assigns, at the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York, New York, the principal sum of Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000) on July 1, 2010, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for public and private debts, and to pay in like manner to the registered owner hereof interest thereon from the date of original issuance hereof, if the date of this bond is prior to January 1, 2006, or, if the date of this bond is on or after January 1, 2006, from the January 1 or July 1 immediately preceding the date of this bond to which interest has been paid (unless the date hereof is an interest payment date to which interest has been paid, in which case from the date hereof), at the rate of four and ninety-eight hundredth s percent (4.98%) per annum in like coin or currency on January 1 and July 1, commencing January 1, 2006, and at maturity or earlier redemption until the principal of this bond shall have become due and been duly paid or provided for, and to pay interest (before and after judgment) on any overdue principal, premium, if any, and (to the extent permitted by law) on any overdue interest at the rate of five and ninety-eight hundredths percent (5.98%) per annum. Interest on this bond shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest on this bond in respect of a portion of a month shall be calculated based on the actual number of days elapsed.

The interest so payable on any interest payment date will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Mortgage hereinafter referred to, be paid to the person in whose name this bond is registered at the close of business on the Business Day immediately preceding such interest payment date. At the option of the Company, interest may be paid by check mailed on or prior to such interest payment date to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the register of the Company.

This bond shall not become obligatory until The Bank of New York, the Trustee under the Mortgage, or its successor thereunder, shall have signed the form of authentication certificate endorsed hereon.

This bond is one of a series of bonds of the Company issuable in series and is one of a duly authorized series of First Mortgage Bonds, 4.98% Series due July 1, 2010 (herein called bonds of the Eighteenth Series), all bonds of all series issued under and equally secured by a Mortgage and Deed of Trust (herein, together with any indenture supplemental thereto, including the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture dated as of June 1, 2005, called the Mortgage), dated as of May 1, 1987, duly executed by the Company to Bank of Montreal Trust Company (The Bank of New York, successor) and Z. George Klodnicki (Stephen J. Giurlando, successor), as Trustees. Reference is made to the Mortgage for a description of the mortgaged and pledged property, assets and rights, the nature and extent of the lien and security, the respective rights, limitations of rights, covenants, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the holders of bonds and the Trustees and the terms and conditions upon wh ich the bonds are, and are to be, secured, the circumstances under which additional bonds may be issued and the definition of certain terms herein used, to all of which, by its acceptance of this bond, the holder of this bond agrees.

The principal hereof may be declared or may become due prior to the maturity date hereinbefore named on the conditions, in the manner and at the time set forth in the Mortgage, upon the occurrence of a Default as in the Mortgage provided. The Mortgage provides that in certain circumstances and upon certain conditions, such a declaration and its consequences or certain past defaults and the consequences thereof may be waived by such affirmative vote of holders of bonds as is specified in the Mortgage.

The Mortgage contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee to execute supplemental indentures amending the Mortgage for certain specified purposes without the consent of holders of bonds. With the consent of the Company and to the extent permitted by and as provided in the Mortgage, the rights and obligations of the Company and/or the rights of the holders of the bonds of the Eighteenth Series and/or the terms and provisions of the Mortgage may be modified or altered by such affirmative vote or votes of the holders of bonds then Outstanding as are specified in the Mortgage.

Any consent or waiver by the holder of this bond (unless effectively revoked as provided in the Mortgage) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders of this bond and of any bonds issued in exchange or substitution herefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this bond or such other bond.

No reference herein to the Mortgage and no provision of this bond or of the Mortgage shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this bond in the manner, at the respective times, at the rate and in the currency herein prescribed.

The bonds are issuable as registered bonds without coupons in the denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. At the office or agency to be maintained by the Company in The City of New York, New York, and in the manner and subject to the provisions of the Mortgage, bonds may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount of bonds of other authorized denominations, without payment of any charge other than a sum sufficient to reimburse the Company for any tax or other governmental charge incident thereto. This bond is transferable as prescribed in the Mortgage by the registered owner hereof in person, or by his duly authorized attorney, at the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York, New York, upon surrender of this bond, and upon payment, if the Company shall require it, of the transfer charges provided for in the Mortgage, and, thereupon, a new fully registered bond of the same series for a like principal amount will be issued to the transferee in exchange hereof as provided in the Mortgage. The Company and the Trustees may deem and treat the person in whose name this bond is registered as the absolute owner hereof for the purpose of receiving payment and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustees shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

This bond is redeemable at the option of the Company under certain circumstances in the manner and at such redemption price as is provided in the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture. This bond is also redeemable at the option of the owner upon the events, in the manner, and at such redemption prices as are specified in the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture. This bond is also mandatorily redeemable under certain circumstances in the manner and at such redemption price as is provided in the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture.

No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or interest on this bond against any incorporator or any past, present or future subscriber to the capital stock, stockholder, officer or director of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, as such, either directly or through the Company or any predecessor or successor corporation, under any rule of law, statute or constitution or by the enforcement of any assessment or otherwise, all such liability of incorporators, subscribers, stockholders, officers and directors being released by the holder or owner hereof by the acceptance of this bond and being likewise waived and released by the terms of the Mortgage.

As provided in the Mortgage, this bond shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Entergy New Orleans, Inc. has caused this bond to be signed in its corporate name by its Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or one of its Vice Presidents by his or her signature or a facsimile thereof, and its corporate seal to be impressed or imprinted hereon and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries by his or her signature or a facsimile thereof.

Dated: June 22, 2005

ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
By:                                                   
Name:  Steven C. McNeal
Title:  Vice President and Treasurer

Attest:

Name:                                                    
Christopher T. Screen
 Assistant Secretary

TRUSTEE'S AUTHENTICATION CERTIFICATE

This bond is one of the bonds, of the series herein designated, described or provided for in the within-mentioned mortgage.

THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee,

By:                                            
Authorized Signatory

LEGEND

Unless and until this bond is exchanged in whole or in part for certificated bonds registered in the names of the various beneficial holders hereof as then certified to the Trustee by The Depository Trust Company or its successor (the "Depositary"), this bond may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of the Depositary to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate to be issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of the Depositary, and any amount payable thereunder is made payable to Cede & Co., or such other name, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

This bond may be exchanged for certificated bonds registered in the names of the various beneficial owners hereof if (a) the Depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days or (b) the Company elects to issue certificated bonds to beneficial owners (as certified to the Company by the Depositary).

 

EX-4 5 a4f.htm

Exhibit 4(f)

 

U.S. $35,000,000

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of June 30, 2005

 

Among

ENTERGY CORPORATION

as Borrower

THE BANKS NAMED HEREIN

 

as Banks

 

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH

as Administrative Agent

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH

as Arranger

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of June 30, 2005

ENTERGY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the banks (the "Banks") listed on the signature pages hereof and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch ("HypoVereinsbank"), as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the Lenders hereunder, agree with reference to the following facts:

RECITALS

    1. The Borrower, Banks and Administrative Agent are party to the Existing Credit Agreement (as defined below) and each party thereto desires to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety by this Agreement (to be effective on the Effective Date).
    2. Pending the Effective Date, the Existing Credit Agreement shall remain in effect.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

    SECTION 1.01.    Certain Defined Terms.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

"Advance" means an advance by a Lender to the Borrower as part of a Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance, each of which shall be a "Type" of Advance.

"Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person.

"Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

"Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender's Eurodollar Lending Office.

"Applicable Margin" means 185 basis points per annum for any Eurodollar Rate Advance.

"Approved Fund" means, with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans, any other fund that invests in commercial loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee of that Lender, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto.

"Available Commitment" means, as to any Lender at any time of determination, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such Lender's Commitment over (b) the aggregate principal amount of such Lender's Advances then outstanding.

"Base Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the higher of:

    1. the rate of interest announced by HypoVereinsbank in New York, New York to its customers, from time to time, as HypoVereinsbank's base rate; and
    2. 1/2 of 1% per annum above the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time.

"Base Rate Advance" means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.05(a).

"Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 or Converted pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.08.

"Business Day" means a day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized to close in New York City and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.

"Capitalization" means, as of any date of determination, with respect to the Borrower and its subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the total principal amount of all Debt of the Borrower and its subsidiaries outstanding on such date, (ii) Consolidated Net Worth as of such date and (iii) to the extent not otherwise included in Capitalization, all preferred stock and other preferred securities of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, including preferred securities issued by any subsidiary trust, outstanding on such date.

"Commitment" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

"Commitment Period" means the period beginning on (and including) November 24, 2003 and ending on December 1, 2003.

"Common Equity" shall mean the stock, shares or other ownership interests in the issuer thereof howsoever evidenced (including, without limitation, limited liability company membership interests) that has ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managers or trustees (or other persons performing similar functions) of the issuer, as applicable, provided that Preferred Equity, even if it has such ordinary voting power, shall not be Common Equity.

"Consolidated Net Worth" means the sum of the capital stock (excluding treasury stock and capital stock subscribed for and unissued) and surplus (including earned surplus, capital surplus and the balance of the current profit and loss account not transferred to surplus) accounts of the Borrower and its subsidiaries appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries prepared as of the date of determination in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e), after eliminating all intercompany transactions and all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of subsidiaries.

"Convert", "Conversion" and "Converted" each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of another Type or the selection of a new, or the renewal of the same, Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Advances pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.08.

"Debt" of any Person means (without duplication) all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness (whether contingent or otherwise) of such Person (i) for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar instruments, (ii) to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than such obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business on customary trade terms, provided that such obligations are not more than 30 days past due), (iii) as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, recorded as capital leases, (iv) under reimbursement agreements or similar agreements with respect to the issuance of letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of letters of credit opened to provide for the payment of goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business), (v) under any Guaranty Obligations and (vi) liabilities in r espect of unfunded vested benefits under plans covered by Title IV of ERISA.

"Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary" means a direct or indirect domestic subsidiary of the Borrower engaged in generation, transmission or distribution of electricity or the transmission or distribution of natural gas that is regulated as to rates on a cost of service basis by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (or successor agency) or a state or local governmental body.

"Effective Date" means June 30, 2005.

"Eligible Assignee" means a Person (a) (i) that is (A) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000; (B) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of the OECD, or a political subdivision of any such country, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000, provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States or another country which is also a member of OECD; or (C) a Lender, a financial institution Affiliate of any Lender or an Approved Fund of any Lender immediately prior to an assignment and (ii) whose long-term public senior debt securities are rated at least "BBB-" by S&P or at least "Baa3" by Moody's; or (b) that is approved by the Borrower (whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and the Administrative Agent.

"Entergy Arkansas" means Entergy Arkansas, Inc., an Arkansas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Entergy Gulf States" means Entergy Gulf States, Inc., a Texas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Entergy Louisiana" means Entergy Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Entergy Mississippi" means Entergy Mississippi, Inc., a Mississippi corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Entergy New Orleans" means Entergy New Orleans, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Environmental Laws" means any federal, state or local laws, ordinances or codes, rules, orders, or regulations relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to hazardous substances, laws relating to reclamation of land and waterways and laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata) or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollution, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder, each as amended and modified from time to time.

"ERISA Affiliate" of a Person or entity means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is a member of a group of which such Person or entity is a member and that is under common control with such Person or entity within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.

"ERISA Plan" means an employee benefit plan maintained for employees of any Person or any ERISA Affiliate of such Person subject to Title IV of ERISA.

"ERISA Termination Event" means (i) a Reportable Event described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder (other than a Reportable Event not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to PBGC), or (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from an ERISA Plan during a plan year in which the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates was a "substantial employer" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (iii) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate an ERISA Plan or the treatment of an ERISA Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, or (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate an ERISA Plan by the PBGC or to appoint a trustee to administer any ERISA Plan, or (v) any other event or condition that would constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer any ERISA Plan.

"Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

"Eurodollar Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Eurodollar Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

"Eurodollar Rate" means, for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the same Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered by the principal office of the Reference Bank in London, England, to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially equal to such Reference Bank's Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of such Borrowing and for a period equal to such Interest Period. The Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the same Borrowing shall be determined by the Administrative Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the Administrative Age nt from the Reference Bank two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.07.

"Eurodollar Rate Advance" means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.05(b).

"Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage" of any Lender for the Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advance means the reserve percentage applicable during such Interest Period (or if more than one such percentage shall be so applicable, the daily average of such percentages for those days in such Interest Period during which any such percentage shall be so applicable) under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for such Lender with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to such Interest Period.

"Events of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

"Existing Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement, dated as of November 24, 2003, among the Borrower, the banks named therein and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent, as heretofore amended.

"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

"Granting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(i).

"Guaranty Obligations" means (i) direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, Debt of any Person and (ii) other guaranty or similar obligations in respect of the financial obligations of others, including, without limitation, Support Obligations.

"Indemnified Person" has the meaning specified in Section 8.04(c).

"Interest Period" means, for each Advance made as part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Advance into such an Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below, unless such advance is converted into another Interest Period pursuant to Section 2.08. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be 1, 2, 3 or 6 months, or 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 years (or any other period agreed upon by the Borrower and the Lenders) as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however, that:

    1. the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Maturity Date;
    2. Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Advances made as part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration; and
    3. whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, in the case of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Advance, that if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day.

"Junior Subordinated Debentures" means any junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures issued by any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans from time to time.

"Lenders" means the Banks listed on the signature pages hereof and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07.

"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person or any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to own, subject to a Lien, any asset that it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

"Majority Lenders" means at any time Lenders to which are owed more than 50% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or, if no such principal amount is then outstanding, Lenders having more than 50% of the Commitments (without giving effect to any termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 6.02), provided, that for purposes hereof, neither the Borrower, nor any of its Affiliates, if a Lender, shall be included in (i) the Lenders holding such amount of the Advances or having such amount of the Commitments or (ii) determining the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances or the total Commitments.

"Maturity Date" means November 24, 2008.

"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto.

"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding three plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

"Net Available Cash" from a Stock Disposition means cash payments received therefrom net of all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under generally accepted accounting principles, as a result of such Stock Disposition.

"Non-Recourse Debt" means any Debt of any subsidiary of the Borrower that does not constitute Debt of the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans.

"Notice of Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).

"Notice of Conversion" has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(a).

"OECD" means the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

"Other Taxes" has the meaning specified in Section 2.13(b).

"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

"Preferred Equity" shall mean any stock, shares or other ownership interests in the issuer thereof howsoever evidenced (including, without limitation, limited liability company membership interests), whether with or without voting rights, that is entitled to dividends or distributions prior to the payment of dividends or distributions with respect to Common Equity.

"Prepayment Event" means the occurrence of any event or the existence of any condition under any agreement or instrument relating to any Debt of a Significant Subsidiary that is outstanding in a principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate, which occurrence or event results in the declaration of such Debt being due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof.

"Reference Bank" means HypoVereinsbank.

"Register" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(c).

"Reportable Event" has the meaning assigned to that term in Title IV of ERISA.

"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto.

"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

"SEC Order" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a)(iii).

"Senior Debt Rating" means, as to any Person, the rating assigned by Moody's or S&P to the senior secured long-term debt of such Person.

"SERI" means Systems Energy Resources, Inc., an Arkansas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Significant Subsidiary" means Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, SERI and any other Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary of the Borrower: (i) the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of which exceed 5% of the total assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries or (ii) the net worth of which exceeds 5% of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, in each case as shown on the most recent audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries. In no event shall "Significant Subsidiary" include any Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary that as of March 31, 2005, (i) had total assets (after intercompany eliminations) that were 5% or less of the total assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of such date or (ii) had a net worth that was 5% or less of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of such date.

"SPC" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(i).

"Stock Disposition" means, with respect to any Person, the issuance, sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any Common Equity (or stock or other instruments convertible into Common Equity) of such Person.

"Support Obligations" means any financial obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person guaranteeing or otherwise supporting any Debt or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Debt, (ii) to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Debt of the payment of such Debt, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital, available cash or other financial statement condition of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt, (iv) to provide equity capital under or in respect of equity subscription arrangements so as to assure any Person with respect to the payment of such Debt or the performance of such obligation, or (v) to provide financial support for the performance of, or to arrange for the performance of, any non-monetary obligations or non-funded debt payment obligations (including, without limitation, guaranties of payments under power purchase or other similar arrangements) of the primary obligor.

"Taxes" has the meaning specified in Section 2.13(a).

    SECTION 1.02.    Computation of Time Periods.

In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words "to" and "until" each means "to but excluding".

    SECTION 1.03.    Accounting Terms.

All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) hereof.

ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES

    SECTION 2.01.    The Advances.

Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to have made one Eurodollar Rate Advance to the Borrower on any Business Day during the Commitment Period in an amount not to exceed the amount set opposite such Lender's name on Schedule II hereto or, if such Lender has entered into any Assignment and Acceptance, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) (such Lender's "Commitment"). At no time may the principal amount outstanding hereunder exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments; provided further that, the aggregate amount of the Commitments shall not exceed $35,000,000.

    SECTION 2.02.    Making the Advances.

    1. Each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing, by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof. Each such notice of a Borrowing (a "Notice of Borrowing") shall be transmitted by telecopier, telex or cable, confirmed immediately in writing, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, specifying therein the requested (A) date of such Borrowing, (B) Type of Advances to be made in connection with such Borrowing, (C) aggregate amount of such Borrowing, (D) the Borrower's wire instructions, and (E) initial Interest Period for each such Advance. Each Lender shall, before 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date of any Borrowing, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section& nbsp;8.02, in same day funds, such Lender's ratable portion of such Borrowing. After the Administrative Agent's receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the Administrative Agent's aforesaid address.
    2. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Notice of Borrowing requesting Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss, cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.
    3. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower (following the Administrative Agent's demand on such Lender for the corresponding amount) severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available t o the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to Advances made in connection with such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender's Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
    4. The failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

    SECTION 2.03.    Intentionally Omitted.

    SECTION 2.04.    Repayment of Advances, Etc.

The Borrower shall repay the principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender and Converted from time to time on the Maturity Date.

    SECTION 2.05.    Interest on Advances.

The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender from the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

    1. Base Rate Advances. If such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the Base Rate in effect from time to time, payable quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
    2. Eurodollar Rate Advances. Subject to Section 2.06, if such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during the Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin, payable on the last day of each Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advance and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period.

    SECTION 2.06.    Additional Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances.

The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, so long as such Lender shall be required under regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Advance of such Lender, from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per annum equal at all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting (i) the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for such Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such Eurodollar Rate by a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period, payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Advance. Such additional interest shall be determined by such Lender and notified to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, and such determi nation shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

    SECTION 2.07.    Interest Rate Determination.

    1. The Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Administrative Agent timely information for the purpose of determining each Eurodollar Rate.
    2. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Administrative Agent for purposes of Section 2.05(a).
    3. If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Majority Lenders notify the Administrative Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon

    1. each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and
    2. the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

    SECTION 2.08.    Conversion of Advances.

    1. Voluntary. The Borrower may, upon notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.07 and 2.11, on any Business Day, Convert all Eurodollar Rate Advances of a specified Interest Period made in connection with the same Borrowing into Advances of another specified Interest Period; provided, however, that any Conversion of, or with respect to, any Eurodollar Rate Advances into Advances of another specified Interest Period shall be made on, and only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, unless the Borrower shall also reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b) on the date of such Conversion. Each such notice of a Conversion (a "Notice of Conversion") shall be by telecopier, telex or cable, confirmed immediately in wr iting, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, specifying therein (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Advances to be Converted, and (iii) the duration of the Interest Period for each such Advance.
    2. Mandatory. If a Borrower shall fail to select the Type of any Advance or the duration of any Interest Period for any Borrowing in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of "Interest Period" in Section 1.01, or if any proposed Conversion of a Borrowing shall not occur as a result of the circumstances described in paragraph (c) below, the Administrative Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances.
    3. Failure to Convert. Each Notice of Conversion given pursuant to subsection (a) above shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. The Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender if, as a result of the failure of the Borrower to satisfy any condition to such Conversion (including, without limitation, the occurrence of any Prepayment Event or Event of Default, or any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Prepayment Event with notice or lapse of time or both), such Conversion does not occur. The Borrower's obligations under this subsection (c) shall survive the repayment of all other amounts owing to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the termination of the Commitments.

    SECTION 2.09.    Prepayments.

If the Borrower at any time prepays any Advance, then the Borrower shall give notice to the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) at least two Business Days' prior to the date of prepayment, stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amounts of the Advances, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid and, if such prepayment is prior to November 24, 2007 such other amounts pursuant to Section 8.04(b); provided, however, that (i) partial prepayment shall not be permitted, and (ii) in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b) on the date of such prepayment. Amounts so prepaid under this Section 2.09 may not be reborrowed.

    SECTION 2.10.    Increased Costs.

    1. If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, included in the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage) in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Advances, then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusiv e and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
    2. If any Lender determines that compliance with any law or regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender and that the amount of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender's commitment to lend hereunder and other commitments of this type (including such Lender's commitment to lend hereunder) or the Advances, then, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation in the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines such increase in capital to be alloc able to the existence of such Lender's commitment to lend hereunder or the Advances made by such Lender. A certificate in reasonable detail as to such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

    SECTION 2.11.    Illegality.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent that the introduction of, any change in or any change in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist and (ii) the Borrower shall forthwith prepay in full all Eurodollar Rate Advances of all Lenders then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon, unless the Borrower, within five Business Days of notice from the Administrative Agent, Conver ts all Eurodollar Rate Advances of all Lenders then outstanding into Advances of another Type in accordance with Section 2.08.

    SECTION 2.12.    Payments and Computations.

    1. The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the day when due in United States dollars to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 8.02 in same day funds in accordance with the payment instructions set opposite the name of the Administrative Agent on Schedule I. The Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.02(c), 2.06, 2.10, 2.13 or 8.04(b)) to the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(d), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments hereunder in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves.
    2. The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender, if and to the extent payment owed to such Lender is not made when due hereunder, to charge from time to time to the extent permitted by law against any or all of the Borrower's accounts with such Lender any amount so due.
    3. All computations of interest based on clause (i) of the definition of "Base Rate" shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or clause (ii) of the definition of "Base Rate" shall be made by the Administrative Agent, and all computations of interest pursuant to Section 2.07 shall be made by a Lender, on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of Section 2.07, by a Lender) of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
    4. Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest; provided, however, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.
    5. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.
    6. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder that is not paid when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), and all Advances at any time an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, shall (to the fullest extent permitted by law) bear interest from the date when due until paid in full at a rate per annum equal at all times, in the case of each Advance, to the applicable interest rate (including the Applicable Margin) in effect from time to time for such Advance plus 2% per annum, and, in the case of other amounts, to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Advances plus 2% per annum, payable in each case upon demand.

    SECTION 2.13.    Taxes.

    1. Any and all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.12, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, net income taxes, and franchise taxes imposed in lieu of net income taxes on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender, net income taxes, and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes, by the jurisdiction of such Lender's Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be required by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased (unless and to the extent that (x) the Borrower is required to deduct such Taxes because any Lender fails to comply with subsection (d) below or (y) such Taxes are imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, except to the extent such Lender's assignor, if any, was entitled at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.13(a)) as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.13) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law. Whenever any Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter, the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the original receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof.
    2. In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").
    3. The Borrower will indemnify each Lender and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.13) paid by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor. Nothing herein shall preclude the right of the Borrower to contest any such Taxes or Other Taxes so paid, and the Lenders in question or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) will, following notice from, and at the expense of, the Borrower, take such actions as the Borrower may reasonably request to preserve the Borrower's rights to contest such Taxes or Other Taxes, and, within 60 days following receipt of any refund of amounts with respect to Taxes or Other Taxes for which such Lenders or the Administrative Agent were previously indemnified under this Section 2.13, pay to the Borrower such refunded amounts (including any interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such amounts) ) to the extent of the indemnity payments made by the Borrower; provided, however, that the Borrower agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower if such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund.
    4. Prior to the date of the initial Borrowing in the case of each Bank, and on the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent in writing, each Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States shall provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States certifying that such Lender is exempt from or eligible for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding taxes with respect to all payments to be made to such Lender hereunder. Each Lender shall deliver forms pursuant to this Section 2.13(d) showing eligibility for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax, rather than a complete exemption therefrom, only as a result of a change in treaty, law or regulation that occurs after the date such Lender becomes a p arty to this Agreement; provided, however, that a Lender whose assignor, if any, was entitled at the time of assignment to a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax, rather than a complete exemption therefrom, as a result of a change in treaty, law or regulation that occurred after the date such assignor became a party to this Agreement shall be entitled to deliver a form showing eligibility for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax to the extent that such assignor was so entitled. If for any reason during the term of this Agreement, any Lender becomes unable to submit the forms referred to above or the information or representations contained therein are no longer accurate in any material respect, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing to that effect. Unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent have received forms or other documents satisfactory to them indicating that payments hereunder are not subject to United Sta tes federal withholding tax, the Borrower or, if the Borrower fails to do so, the Administrative Agent, shall withhold taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate in the case of payments to or for any Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States shall not be required to deliver any form that such Lender is not legally able to deliver.
    5. Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall use its reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office, change its Applicable Lending Office to another office of the Lender or take other actions customary or otherwise reasonable under the circumstances if the making of such a change or the taking of such actions would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts which may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender to suffer economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage. Nothing in this subsection 2.13(e) shall postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.13.
    6. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 2.13 shall survive the payment in full of principal and interest hereunder.

    SECTION 2.14.    Sharing of Payments, Etc.

If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Advances made by it (other than pursuant to Section 2.02(c), 2.06, 2.10, 2.13 or 8.04(b)) in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of the Advances obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Advances made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them, provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender's required repaym ent to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.14 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

    SECTION 2.15.    Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness.

    1. Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Advance made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
    2. The Administrative Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of each Advance made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period (if any) with respect thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder, and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.
    3. The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such obligations in accordance with their terms.
    4. Any Lender may request that its Advances be evidenced by one or more promissory notes. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender one or more promissory notes payable to the order of such Lender and in a form acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Advances evidenced by such note(s) and interest thereon shall at all times (including after any assignment pursuant to Section 8.07) be represented by notes from the Borrower, payable to the order of the payee named therein or any assignee pursuant to Section 8.07, except to the extent that any such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such notes for cancellation and requests that such Borrowings once again be evidenced as in subsections (a) and (b) above.

ARTICLE III
CONDITIONS OF LENDING

    SECTION 3.01.    Conditions Precedent to Effective Date.

This Agreement shall become effective on and as of the Effective Date, subject to the satisfaction on or prior thereto of the following conditions precedent:

    1. The Administrative Agent shall have received the following, each dated the same date (except for the financial statements referred to in paragraph (iv) below), in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (except for the notes described in paragraph (i)) with one copy for each Lender:

    1. A promissory note payable to the order of each Lender that requests one pursuant to Section 2.15.
    2. Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving this Agreement, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action with respect to this Agreement;
    3. A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying (A) the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder; (B) that attached thereto are true and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the By Laws of the Borrower, in each case in effect on such date; and (C) that attached thereto are true and correct copies of all governmental and regulatory authorizations and approvals required for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, including, without limitation, a copy of the order (File No. 70-9749) of the SEC under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, authorizing the Borrower to obtain Borrowings and to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement (the "SEC Order");
    4. Copies of the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, and copies of the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005, in each case certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied;
    5. A favorable opinion of counsel for the Borrower, acceptable to the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto and as to such other matters as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and a favorable opinion of special New York counsel for the Borrower, Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto ; and
    6. A certificate of a responsible officer of the Borrower stating that (A) the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 are true and correct on and as of the Effective Date, before and after giving effect to this Agreement and (B) no event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default with notice or lapse of time or both. (b) The costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent's counsel in connection with the preparation of this Agreement, and invoiced prior to the Effective Date, shall have been paid by the Borrower.

.

    SECTION 3.02.    Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing.

The obligation of each Lender to make an Advance on the occasion of each Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing) shall be subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of such Borrowing:

    1. the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion and the acceptance by the Borrower of any proceeds of a Borrowing shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing or Conversion, as applicable, such statements are true):

    1. The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (excluding those contained in subsections (e) and (f) thereof) are correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and
    2. No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default with notice or lapse of time or both.

    1. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents with respect to the truth of the foregoing statements (i) and (ii) as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

    SECTION 4.01.    Representations and Warranties of the Borrower.

The Borrower represents and warrants as follows:

    1. The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the property owned, operated or leased by it requires such qualification, except where failure to so qualify would not materially adversely affect its condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties, or prospects.
    2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Borrower's charter or by-laws, (ii) law applicable to the Borrower or its properties, or (iii) any contractual or legal restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower or its properties.
    3. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, including obtaining any Advances, except for the following (each of which has been duly filed or obtained, and is final and in full force and effect): (A) the filing of the Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto in File No. 70-9749 and (B) the SEC Order.
    4. This Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to any applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, rearrangement, moratorium or similar laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors' rights and remedies and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
    5. The consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and for the year ended on such date, as set forth in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended on such date, as filed with the SEC, accompanied by an opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP, and the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005, and for the three-month period ended on such date set forth in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended on such date, as filed with the SEC, copies of each of which have been furnished to each Bank, fairly present (subject, in the case of such statements dated March 31, 2005, to year-end adjustments) the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as at such dates and the consolidated results of the operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates, in accordance with gener ally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, since December 31, 2004, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition or operations of the Borrower.
    6. Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, and the Borrower's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 18, 2005 (filed May 19, 2005), dated May 13, 2005 (filed May 19, 2005), dated May 25, 2005 (filed June 1, 2005), and dated June 1, 2005 (filed June 14, 2005), there is no pending or threatened action or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower or on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or that purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement. There has been no change in any matter discl osed in such filings that could reasonably be expected to result in such a material adverse effect.
    7. No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or that would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.
    8. The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and not more than 25% of the value of the assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries subject to the restrictions of Section 5.02(a), (c) or (d) is, on the date hereof, represented by margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).
    9. The Borrower is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or an "investment advisor" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Borrower is a "holding company" as that term is defined in, and is registered under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
    10. No ERISA Termination Event has occurred, or is reasonably expected to occur, with respect to any ERISA Plan that may materially and adversely affect the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
    11. Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each ERISA Plan, copies of which have been filed with the Internal Revenue Service and furnished to the Banks, is complete and accurate and fairly presents the funding status of such ERISA Plan, and since the date of such Schedule B there has been no material adverse change in such funding status.
    12. The Borrower has not incurred, and does not reasonably expect to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan.

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

    SECTION 5.01.    Affirmative Covenants.

So long as any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will, unless the Majority Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

    1. Keep Books; Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties; Compliance with Laws; Insurance; Taxes; Inspection Rights.

    1. keep proper books of record and account, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
    2. except as otherwise permitted by Section 5.02(c), preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and preserve and keep in full force and effect its licenses, rights and franchises to the extent necessary to carry on its business;
    3. maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, its properties in good repair, working order and condition, and from time to time make or cause to be made all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements and improvements, in each case to the extent such properties are not obsolete and not necessary to carry on its business;
    4. comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, paying before the same become delinquent all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or its property, except to the extent being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and compliance with ERISA and Environmental Laws;
    5. maintain insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations or through its own program of self-insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which it operates and furnish to the Administrative Agent, within a reasonable time after written request therefor, such information as to the insurance carried as any Lender, through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably request;
    6. pay and discharge its obligations and liabilities in the ordinary course of business, except to the extent that such obligations and liabilities are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and
    7. from time to time upon reasonable notice, permit or arrange for the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their respective agents and representatives to inspect the records and books of account of the Borrower and its subsidiaries during regular business hours.
  1. Use of Proceeds. The Borrower may use the proceeds of the Borrowings for only general corporate purposes including (i) financing, in part, investments by and capital expenditures of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, (ii) subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, repurchases of common stock of the Borrower and/or investments in nonregulated and/or nonutility businesses and (iii) financing working capital requirements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries.
  2. Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Lenders:

    1. as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, (A) consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and (B) consolidated statements of income and retained earnings of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, each certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied;
    2. as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual report for such year for the Borrower and its subsidiaries, containing consolidated financial statements for such year certified without qualification by Deloitte & Touche LLP (or such other nationally recognized public accounting firm as the Administrative Agent may approve), and certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied;
    3. as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower and within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Borrower, a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, stating that no Prepayment Event or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement setting forth details of such Prepayment Event or Event of Default, as the case may be, and the action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
    4. as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Borrower has knowledge of the occurrence of each Prepayment Event, Event of Default and each event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default, continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the duly authorized officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such Prepayment Event or Event of Default or event, as the case may be, and the actions that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
    5. as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Borrower receives notice of the commencement of any litigation against, or any arbitration, administrative, governmental or regulatory proceeding involving, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower, notice of such litigation describing in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances concerning such litigation and the Borrower's or such subsidiary's proposed actions in connection therewith;
    6. promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all reports that the Borrower sends to any of its securities holders, and copies of all reports and registration statements which the Borrower files with the SEC or any national securities exchange pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and of all certificates pursuant to Rule 24 which the Borrower files with the SEC pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, in connection with the proceeding of the SEC in File No. 70-9749 related to the SEC Order or any subsequent proceedings related thereto;
    7. as soon as possible and in any event (A) within 30 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Termination Event described in clause (i) of the definition of ERISA Termination Event with respect to any ERISA Plan has occurred and (B) within 10 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know that any other ERISA Termination Event with respect to any ERISA Plan has occurred, a statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower describing such ERISA Termination Event and the action, if any, that the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;
    8. promptly and in any event within two Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower from the PBGC, copies of each notice received by the Borrower of the PBGC's intention to terminate any ERISA Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any ERISA Plan;
    9. promptly and in any event within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service, copies of each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each ERISA Plan;
    10. promptly and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor, a copy of each notice received by the Borrower concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA;
    11. promptly and in any event within five Business Days after Moody's or S&P has changed any Senior Debt Rating of any Significant Subsidiary, notice of such change; and
    12. such other information respecting the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries as the Administrative Agent or any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

(d) SEC Order. Maintain the SEC Order in full force and effect through its termination date and comply with all terms and conditions thereof until all amounts outstanding under this Agreement shall have been repaid or paid (as the case may be) and the Maturity Date has occurred.

    SECTION 5.02.    Negative Covenants.

So long as any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will not, without the written consent of the Majority Lenders:

    1. Liens, Etc. Create or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of its properties (including, without limitation, any shares of any class of equity security of any of its Significant Subsidiaries or of Entergy New Orleans), in each case to secure or provide for the payment of Debt, other than: (i) Liens in existence on the date of this Agreement; (ii) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies to the extent not past due, or which are being contested in good faith in appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which the Borrower has provided adequate reserves for the payment thereof in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (iii) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations under worker's compensation laws or similar legislation; (iv) other pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business (other than for borrowed monies) that, in the aggregate, are not mate rial to the Borrower; (v) purchase money mortgages or other liens or purchase money security interests upon or in any property acquired or held by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such property or to secure indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such property; (vi) Liens imposed by law such as materialmen's, mechanics', carriers', workers' and repairmen's Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet due or currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; (vii) attachment, judgment or other similar Liens arising in connection with court proceedings, provided that such Liens, in the aggregate, shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding, (viii) other Liens not otherwise referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vii) above, provided that such Liens, in the aggregate, shall not exceed $ 100,000,000 at any one time and (ix) Liens created for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing in whole or in part Debt secured by any Lien referred in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) above, provided that the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement and that such extension, renewal or replacement, as the case may be, shall be limited to all or a part of the property or Debt that secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (and any improvements on such property); provided, further, that no Lien permitted under the foregoing clauses (i) through (ix) shall be placed upon any shares of any class of equity security of any Significant Subsidiary or of Entergy New Orleans unless the obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder are simultaneously and ratably secured by such Lien pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Lende rs.
    2. Limitation on Debt. Permit the total principal amount of all Debt of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and without duplication of liability therefor, at any time to exceed 65% of Capitalization determined as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 5.02(b) "Debt" and "Capitalization" shall not include (i) Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to a subsidiary trust which has issued preferred securities that are included in the calculation of "Capitalization" and (ii) any Debt of any subsidiary of the Borrower that is Non-Recourse Debt.
    3. Mergers, Etc. Merge with or into or consolidate with or into any other Person, except that the Borrower may merge with any other Person, provided that, immediately after giving effect to any such merger, (i) the Borrower is the surviving corporation or (A) the surviving corporation is organized under the laws of one of the states of the United States of America and assumes the Borrower's obligations hereunder in a manner acceptable to the Majority Lenders, and (B) after giving effect to such merger, the senior unsecured long-term debt of such Person shall be at least BBB- and Baa3, (ii) no event shall have occurred and be continuing that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both, and (iii) the Borrower shall not be liable with respect to any Debt or allow its property to be subject to any Lien which would not be permiss ible with respect to it or its property under this Agreement on the date of such transaction.
    4. Disposition of Assets. Cause a Stock Disposition with respect to any Significant Subsidiary, or permit any Significant Subsidiary to cause a Stock Disposition with respect to any other Person, unless (i) the Borrower shall continue to own directly or indirectly all of the Common Equity of each Significant Subsidiary, or (ii) such Stock Disposition is pursuant, required or related to any regulatory authority and/or governing body (pertaining (A) to the organization or formation of a regional transmission organization or (B) to the separation or disaggregation of generation, transmission and/or distribution assets), and within 180 days of such Stock Disposition, the Borrower applies (or causes such Significant Subsidiary to apply) all of the Net Available Cash from such Stock Disposition (1) to prepay, repay, purchase, repurchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire for value Debt of the Borrower and/or Debt of one or more Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiaries t hat remain a subsidiary of the Borrower and/or (2) to reinvest in the business of one or more Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01.Events of Default.

Each of the following events shall constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder:

    1. The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when the same becomes due and payable, or shall fail to pay interest thereon or any other amount payable under this Agreement within three Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or
    2. Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made; or
    3. The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe (i) any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(b), or 5.02 or (ii) any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if the failure to perform or observe such other term, covenant or agreement shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or
    4. The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Debt of the Borrower that is outstanding in a principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Debt hereunder) when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt; or
    5. The Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans seeking to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans shall take any corporate action to authorize or to consent to any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e); or
    6. Any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of 10 consecutive Business Days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
    7. (i)  An ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower shall fail to maintain the minimum funding standards required by Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any plan year or a waiver of such standard is sought or granted under Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or (ii) an ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower is, shall have been or will be terminated or the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA, or (iii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower has incurred or will incur a liability to or on account of an ERISA Plan under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA and there shall result from such event either a liability or a material risk of incurring a liability to the PBGC or an ERISA Plan, or (iv) any ERISA Termination Event with respect to an ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower shall have occurred, and in the case of any event described in clau ses (i) through (iv), (A) such event (if correctable) shall not have been corrected and (B) the then-present value of such ERISA Plan's vested benefits exceeds the then-current value of assets accumulated in such ERISA Plan by more than the amount of $25,000,000 (or in the case of an ERISA Termination Event involving the withdrawal of a "substantial employer" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), the withdrawing employer's proportionate share of such excess shall exceed such amount).

SECTION 6.02. Remedies.

If any Prepayment Event or Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or E ntergy New Orleans under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

ARTICLE VII
THE AGENT

SECTION 7.01. Authorization and Action.

Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Advances), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Majority Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The Administrative Agent agrees to give to each Lender prompt notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

SECTION 7.02. Administrative Agent's Reliance, Etc.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent: (i) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (ii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (iii) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower; (iv) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of any lien or security interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (v) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier, telegram, cable or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

ARTICLE 7.03. HypoVereinsbank and Affiliates.

With respect to its Commitment and the Advances made by it, HypoVereinsbank shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include HypoVereinsbank in its individual capacity. HypoVereinsbank and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower, any of its subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own securities of the Borrower or any such subsidiary, all as if HypoVereinsbank were not the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

SECTION 7.04. Lender Credit Decision.

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement.

SECTION 7.05. Indemnification.

The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the Advances then outstanding to each of them (or if no Advances are at the time outstanding, ratably according to the respective amounts of their Commitments), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without li mitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that such expenses are reimbursable by the Borrower but for which the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed by the Borrower.

SECTION 7.06. Successor Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Majority Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which, for so long as no Prepayment Event or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, shall be a Lender and shall be approved by the Borrower (with such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and approved by the Borrower, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent's giving of notice of resignation or the Majority Lenders' removal of the retiring Administrative Agent, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial b ank organized under the laws of the United States or of any other country that is a member of the OECD having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if no Prepayment Event or Event of Default, and no event that with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, then no successor Administrative Agent shall be appointed under this Section 7.06 without the prior written consent of the Borrower, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 8.01. Amendments, Etc.

No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Majority Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders (other than any Lender that is the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower), do any of the following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01 or 3.02, (b) increase the Commitments of the Lenders or subject the Lenders to any additional obligations, (c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any other amounts payable hereunder, (d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or interest on, the Advances or other amounts payable hereunder, (e) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or the number of Lenders that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder or (f) amend this Section 8.01; and provided further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, and provided further, that this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender or the Administrative Agent if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated) or have any Commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all amounts payable hereunder to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be .

SECTION 8.02. Notices, Etc.

All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier, telegraphic, telex or cable communication) and mailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed, cabled or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at 639 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113, Attention: Treasurer; if to any Bank, at its Eurodollar Lending Office specified opposite its name on Schedule I hereto; if to any other Lender, at its Eurodollar Lending Office specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender; and if to the Administrative Agent, at its address at 150 E. 42 Street, New York, NY 10017, Attention: Loan Operations, Tina Chung/Mariana Mucenica (Telephone: (212) 672-5688/5811, Facsimile: (212) 672-5691) or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties. All such notices and communications shall, when mailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed or cabled, be effective when deposited in the mails, telecopied, delivered to the telegraph company, confirmed by telex answerback or delivered to the cable company, respectively, except that notices and communications to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Article II or VII shall not be effective until received by the Administrative Agent. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(c), notices and other communications given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed given to the Lenders.

                    SECTION 8.03. No Waiver; Remedies;

No failure on the part of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

SECTION 8.04. Costs and Expenses; Indemnification.

    1. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, syndication administration, modification and amendment of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Agreement. Any invoices to the Borrower with respect to the aforementioned expenses shall describe such costs and expenses in reasonable detail. The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses, if any (including, without limitation, counsel fees and expenses of outside counsel and of internal counsel), incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherw ise) of, and the protection of the rights of the Lenders under, this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a).

    1. If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurodollar Rate Advance is made other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.07(c), 2.08, 2.09 or 2.11, acceleration of the maturity of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.02, assignment to another Lender upon demand of the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.07(g) or (h) or for any other reason, the Borrower shall, upon demand by any Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses which it may reasonably incur as a result of such payment or Conversion, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits upon such Lender's representation to the Borrower that it has made reasonable efforts to mitigate such loss), cost or expense incurred by reason of the li quidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Advance. Notwithstanding the forgoing, the Borrower agrees that if the Borrower prepays any Advance prior to November 24, 2007, then the Borrower also shall pay to the Lenders their loss of anticipated profit from the date of prepayment until November 24, 2007 and the Lenders shall not be required to mitigate such loss. The Borrower and the Lenders agree that the lost profits shall be calculated as follows:

[1.85% * (Principal Amount) * (Actual Days / 360)] / [(1 + (Interest Rate) ^ (Actual Days /(2* 360))]

where

(i) Principal Amount is the aggregate principal amount of all Advances outstanding on the prepayment date

          1. (ii) Interest Rate is the Eurodollar Rate for the time period which is half the length of time from the date of prepayment to November 24, 2007. The Eurodollar Rate used in the denominator shall be determined three days prior to the date of prepayment.

      1. Actual Days is the actual number of days between the date of prepayment and November 24, 2007

Any Lender making a demand pursuant to this Section 8.04(b) shall provide the Borrower with a written certification of the amounts required to be paid to such Lender, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the Lender's determination of such amounts; provided, however, that no Lender shall be required to disclose any confidential or proprietary information in any certification provided pursuant hereto, and the failure of any Lender to provide such certification shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder.

(c)      The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold each Lender, the Administrative Agent and their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and professional advisors (each, an "Indemnified Person") harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses, whether or not such Indemnified Person is named as a party to any proceeding or is otherwise subjected to judicial or legal process arising from any such proceeding) that any of them may incur or which may be claimed against any of them by any Person or entity by reason of or in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, or the use by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries of the proceeds of any Advance, except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to any indemnification hereunder to the extent that such claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses are finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person. The Borrower's obligations under this Section 8.04(c) shall survive the repayment of all amounts owing to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the termination of the Commitments. If and to the extent that the obligations of the Borrower under this Section 8.04(c) are unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction thereof which is permissible under applicable law. The Borrower also agrees not to assert any claim against any Lender, any of such Lender's affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to this Agreement, any of the transact ions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances.

SECTION 8.05. Right of Set-off.

Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Prepayment Event or Event of Default and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.02 to authorize the Administrative Agent to declare the Advances due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.02, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 8.05 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which such Lender may have.

SECTION 8.06. Binding Effect.

This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

SECTION 8.07. Assignments and Participations.

    1. Each Lender may assign to one or more banks or other entities all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it); provided, however, that (i) the Borrower (unless a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing) and the Administrative Agent shall have consented to such assignment (with each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) by signing the Assignment and Acceptance referred to in clause (iv) below; (ii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under this Agreement; (iii) the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than $10,000,000 and shall be an integral multiple of $1,000,000 (or shall be the total amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment); and (iv) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any promissory notes held by the assigning Lender and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (plus an amount equal to out-of-pocket legal expenses of the Administrative Agent, estimated by the Administrative Agent and advised to such parties). Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and (y) the Lender assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned b y it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender at any time may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate or Approved Fund of such Lender.
    2. By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a cop y of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement a re required to be performed by it as a Lender.
    3. The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 8.02 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
    4. Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, together with any promissory notes held by the assigning Lender, the Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower.
    5. Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks, financial institutions or other entities in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the maker of any such Advance for all purposes of this Agreement and (iv) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement.
    6. Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 8.07, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant, any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Borrower received by it from such Lender.
    7. If any Lender shall make any demand for payment under Section 2.10 or 2.13, or if any Lender shall be the subject of any notification or assertion of illegality under Section 2.11, then within 30 days after any such demand (if, but only if, such demanded payment has been made by the Borrower) or notification or assertion, the Borrower may, with the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and provided that no Prepayment Event, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall then have occurred and be continuing, demand that such Lender assign in accordance with this Section 8.07 to one or more assignees designated by the Borrower and acceptable to the Administrative Agent all (but not less than all) of such Lender's Commitment and the Advances owing to it within the period ending on the later to occur of such 30th day and the last day of the longest of the then current Interest Periods for such Advances; provided, however, that the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent the $3,500 administrative fee payable pursuant to clause (iv) of subsection (a) above if such assignee is not a Lender immediately prior to such assignment. If any such assignee designated by the Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent shall fail to consummate such assignment on terms acceptable to such Lender, or if the Borrower shall fail to designate any such assignees acceptable to the Administrative Agent for all or part of such Lender's Commitment or Advances, then such demand by the Borrower shall become ineffective; it being understood for purposes of this subsection (h) that such assignment shall be conclusively deemed to be on terms acceptable to such Lender, and such Lender shall be compelled to consummate such assignment to an Eligible Assignee designated by the Borrower, if such Eligible Assignee (A) shall agree to such assignment by entering into a n Assignment and Acceptance with such Lender and (B) shall offer compensation to such Lender in an amount equal to all amounts then owing by the Borrower to such Lender hereunder, whether for principal, interest, fees, costs or expenses (other than the demanded payment referred to above and payable by the Borrower as a condition to the Borrower's right to demand such assignment), or otherwise. In addition, in the event that the Borrower shall be entitled to demand the replacement of any Lender pursuant to this subsection (h), the Borrower may, in the case of any such Lender, with the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and provided that no Prepayment Event, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall then have occurred and be continuing, terminate all (but not less than all) such Lender's Commitment and prepay all (but not less than all) such Lender's Advances not so assigned, together with all interest accrued thereon to the date of such prepayment and all fees, costs and expenses and other amounts then owing by the Borrower to such Lender hereunder, at any time from and after such later occurring day in accordance with Section 2.09 hereof (but without the requirement stated therein for ratable treatment of the other Lenders), if and only if, after giving effect to such termination and prepayment, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Advances of all Lenders then outstanding does not exceed the then remaining Commitments of the Lenders. Notwithstanding anything set forth above in this subsection (h) to the contrary, the Borrower shall not be entitled to compel the assignment by any Lender demanding payment under Section 2.10(a) of its Commitment and Advances or terminate and prepay the Commitment and Advances of such Lender if, prior to or promptly following any such demand by the Borrower, such Lender shall have changed or shall change, as the case m ay be, its Applicable Lending Office for its Eurodollar Rate Advances so as to eliminate the further incurrence of such increased cost. In furtherance of the foregoing, any such Lender demanding payment or giving notice as provided above agrees to use reasonable efforts to so change its Applicable Lending Office if, to do so, would not result in the incurrence by such Lender of additional costs or expenses which it deems material or, in the sole judgment of such Lender, be inadvisable for regulatory, competitive or internal management reasons.
    8. Anything in this Section 8.07 to the contrary notwithstanding, any Lender may assign and pledge all or any portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it to any Federal Reserve Bank (and its transferees) as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder.
    9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC") of such Granting Lender identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Advance that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any such SPC to make any Advance, (ii) if such SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Advance, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Advance pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) no SPC or Granting Lender shall be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section 2.10 or 8.04(b) than the Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive had the Granting Lender not otherwise granted such SPC the option to provide any Advance to the Borrower. The making of an Advance by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Advance were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable so long as, and to the extent that, the related Granting Lender provides such indemnity or makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against or join any other person in instituting against such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidat ion proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Granting Lender unconditionally agrees to indemnify the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender against all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be incurred by or asserted against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, in any way relating to or arising as a consequence of any such forbearance or delay in the initiation of any such proceeding against its SPC. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that no SPC shall have the rights of a Lender hereunder, such rights being retained by the applicable Granting Lender. Accordingly, and without limiting the foregoing, each party hereby further acknowledges and agrees that no SPC shall have any voting rights hereunder and that the voting rights attributable to any Advance made by an SPC shall be exercised only by the relevant Granting Lender and that each Granting Lender shall serve as the administrative agent and attorney-in-fact for its SPC and shall on behalf of its SPC receive any and all payments made for the benefit of such SPC and take all actions hereunder to the extent, if any, such SPC shall have any rights hereunder. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of any other party hereto, assign all or a portion of its interest in any Advances to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any information relating to its Advances to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. This Section 8.07(i) may not be amended without the prior written consent of each Granting Lender, all or any part of whose Advance is being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment.

SECTION 8.08. Governing Law.

THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY NOTE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.15 SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

SECTION 8.09. Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

    1. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby irrevocably (i) submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal court sitting in New York City and any appellate court from any thereof in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or in such Federal court. The Borrower hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding. The Borrower also irrevocably consents, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding by the mailing by certified mail of copies of such process to the Borrower at its address specified in Section 8.02. The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
    2. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER.

SECTION 8.10. Execution in Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

ENTERGY CORPORATION

 

By                                                    
Steven C. McNeal
Vice President and Treasurer

 

 

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
     as Administrative Agent

By                                                    
Name:
Title:

 

By                                                      
Name:
Title:

BANKS

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH

By                                                    
Name:
Title:

 

By                                                    
Name:
Title:

SCHEDULE I

ENTERGY CORPORATION

U.S. $35,000,000 Credit Agreement

 

Name of Bank

Payment
Instructions

 

Eurodollar
Lending Office

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as
Administrative Agent
and Lender

Fedwire: #9; Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Favor: Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch

ABA No.: 026 008 808
A/C#: 594 012 033 405 501
Account Name: Loan Servicing
Reference: Entergy Term Loan
Attention: Tina Chung

Swift: HYVEUS 33

 

Bayerische Hypo- und
Vereinsbank AG, Cayman Islands Branch
c/o Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG
150 E. 42 Street
New York, NY 100177

 

SCHEDULE II

COMMITMENT SCHEDULE

 

Name of Lender

Commitment Amount

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch

$35,000,000

   

Total Commitment:

$35,000,000

 

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
150 E. 42 Street
New York, New York 10017

[Date]

 

Attention: Bank Loan Syndications

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Entergy Corporation, refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties thereto and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Borrowing (the "Proposed Borrowing") as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:

    1. The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is ,                         , 20   .
    2. The Type of Advances to be made in connection with the Proposed Borrowing is Eurodollar Rate Advances.
    3. The aggregate amount of the Proposed Borrowing is $        .
    4. The Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the Proposed Borrowing is ___ month[s] or year(s).
    5. [ENTERGY WIRE INSTRUCTIONS].

The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Borrowing:

    1. the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement are correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and
    2. no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.

Very truly yours,

ENTERGY CORPORATION

 

By                                                    
Name:
Title:
 

___________________________
1  Delete for Base Rate Advances.

EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
150 E. 42 Street
New York, New York 10017

 

[Date]

 

Attention:     Bank Loan Syndications

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Entergy Corporation, refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders party thereto and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement, that the undersigned hereby requests a Conversion under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Conversion (the "Proposed Conversion") as required by Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement:

    1. The Business Day of the Proposed Conversion is __________, _____.
    2. The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Conversion is Eurodollar Rate Advances.
    3. The aggregate amount of the Proposed Conversion is $__________.
    4. The Type of Advances to which such Advances are proposed to be Converted is [Eurodollar Rate Advances].
    5. The Interest Period for each Advance made as part of the Proposed Conversion is ___ month(s) or year(s).

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Conversion:

    1. The Borrower's request for the Proposed Conversion is made in compliance with Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement; and
    2. The statements contained in Section 3.02 of the Credit Agreement are true.

Very truly yours,

ENTERGY CORPORATION

By                                                    
Name:
Title:
 

___________________________
2  Delete for Base Rate Advances
 

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

Dated ___________, 20__

 

 

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the "Administrative Agent"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.

____________ (the "Assignor") and ___________ (the "Assignee") agree as follows:

    1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee without recourse, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, that interest in and to all of the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof which represents the percentage interest specified on Schedule 1 of all outstanding rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, such interest in the Assignor's Commitment and the Advances owing to the Assignor. After giving effect to such sale and assignment, the Assignee's Commitment and the amount of the Advances owing to the Assignee will be as set forth in Section (b) of Schedule 1.
    2. The Assignor (A) represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (B) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (C) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto. Except as specified in this Section (b), the assignment hereunder shall be without recourse to the Assignor.
    3. The Assignee (A) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (B) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (C) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; (D) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender; [and] (E) specifies as its Domestic Lending Office (and address for notices) and Eurodollar Lending Office the offices set forth beneath its name on the signature pages hereof [and (F) attaches the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States certifying that it is exempt from United States withholding taxes with respect to all payments to be made to the Assignee under the Credit Agreement].1
    4. Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance by the Assignor and the Assignee, it will be delivered to the Administrative Agent for acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent. The effective date of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be the date of acceptance thereof by the Administrative Agent, unless otherwise specified on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Effective Date"); provided, however, that in no event shall this Assignment and Acceptance become effective prior to the payment for the processing and recordation fee to the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 8.07(a) of the Credit Agreement.
    5. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent, as of the Effective Date, (A) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and (B) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
    6. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent, from and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments under the Credit Agreement in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without limitation, all payments of principal and interest with respect thereto) to the Assignee. The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Credit Agreement for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves.
    7. THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
    8. This Assignment and Acceptance may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were up on the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written, such execution being made on Schedule 1 hereto.

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 

By                                                    
Name:
Title:
 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

 

By__________________________
Name:
Title:
 

_________________________
1  If the Assignee is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States.

 

 

Eurodollar Lending Office:

[Address]

 

 

Accepted this ___ day

of ___________, 20__

 

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
  as Administrative Agent

 

 

By                                                         
Name:
Title:

 

By                                                          
Name:
Title:

 

 

 

Schedule 1

to

Assignment and Acceptance

Dated __________, 20__

 

 

Section (a)

 
   

Percentage Interest:

          %

   

Section (b)

 
   

Assignee's Commitment:

$            

   

Aggregate Outstanding Principal

 

Amount of Advances owing
to the Assignee:

$             

   

Section (c)

 
   

Effective Date1:

_________, 20__

_________________________
1  This date should be no earllier than the date of acceptance by the Administrative Agent.
 


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF OPINION OF
COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER

 

[Date]

 

To each of the Lenders parties to the
Credit Agreement referred to below,
and to Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent

 

Entergy Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have acted as counsel to Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005, by and among the Borrower, the Banks parties thereto and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders thereunder. This opinion is furnished to you at the request of the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(v) of the Credit Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein or unless the context otherwise requires, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

In such capacity, I have examined:

    1. Counterparts of the Credit Agreement, executed by the Borrower;
    2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Borrower (the "Charter");
    3. The Bylaws of the Borrower (the "Bylaws");
    4. A certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated June 23, 2005, attesting to the continued corporate existence and good standing of the Borrower in that State;
    5. A Certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana, dated June 23, 2005, attesting that the Borrower is a foreign corporation duly qualified to conduct business in that State;
    6. A copy of the Order dated April 3, 2001 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 70-9749) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "SEC Order"); and
    7. The other documents furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.01(a) of the Credit Agreement.

I have also examined such other corporate records of the Borrower, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Borrower, and agreements, instruments and other documents, as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies. In making my examination of documents and instruments executed or to be executed by persons other than the Borrower, I have assumed that each such other person had the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform fully its obligations thereunder, the due authorization by each such other person for the execution, delivery and performance thereof and the due execution and delivery thereof by or on behalf of such person of each such document and instrument. In the case of any such person that is not a natural person, I have also assumed, insofar as it is relevant to the opinions set forth below, that each such other person is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was c reated, and is duly qualified and in good standing in each other jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon its ability to execute, deliver and/or perform its obligations under any such document or instrument. I have further assumed that each document, instrument, agreement, record and certificate reviewed by me for purposes of rendering the opinions expressed below has not been amended by any oral agreement, conduct or course of dealing between the parties thereto.

As to questions of fact material to the opinions expressed herein, I have relied upon certificates and representations of officers of the Borrower (including but not limited to those contained in the Credit Agreement and certificates delivered upon the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement) and of appropriate public officials, without independent verification of such matters except as otherwise described herein.

Whenever my opinions herein with respect to the existence or absence of facts are stated to be to my knowledge or awareness, it is intended to signify that no information has come to my attention or the attention of other counsel working under my direction in connection with the preparation of this opinion letter that would give me or them actual knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts. However, except to the extent expressly set forth herein, neither I nor they have undertaken any independent investigation to determine the existence or absence of such facts, and no inference as to my or their knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts should be assumed.

On the basis of the foregoing, having regard for such legal consideration as I deem relevant, and subject to the other limitations and qualifications contained in this letter, I am of the opinion that:

    1. The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the property owned, operated or leased by it requires such qualification.
    2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not contravene (i) the Charter or the Bylaws or (ii) law, or (iii) any contractual or legal restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower. The Credit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower.
    3. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body, is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement, including obtaining any Borrowings under the Credit Agreement, except for the filing of the Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto in File No. 70-9749 and the SEC Order, which has been obtained, is final and in full force and effect, and is not the subject of any appeal.
    4. Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, and the Borrower's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 18, 2005 (filed May 19, 2005), dated May 13, 2005 (filed May 19, 2005), dated May 25, 2005 (filed June 1, 2005), and dated June 1, 2005 (filed June 14, 2005), there is no pending or, to the best of my knowledge, threatened action or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that reasonably could be expected to affect materially and adversely the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower or its ability to perform its obligations under the Credit Agreement, or that purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Credit Agreement. To the best of my knowledge, after inquiry, the re has been no change in any matter disclosed in such filings that reasonably could be expected to result in such a material adverse effect.
    5. The Borrower is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or an "investment adviser" within the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
    6. The Credit Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

My opinions above are subject to the following qualifications:

    1. My opinions are subject, as to enforceability, to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and (B) the application of general principles of equity, including but not limited to the right to have specific performance of contract obligations, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
    2. My opinion in paragraph (a) above, insofar as it relates to the due incorporation, valid existence and good standing of the Borrower under Delaware law, is given exclusively in reliance upon a certification of the Secretary of State of Delaware, upon which I believe I am justified in relying. A copy of such certification has been provided to you.
    3. My opinion set forth in paragraph (c) above as to the obtaining of necessary governmental and regulatory approvals is based solely upon a review of those laws that, in my experience, are normally applicable to the Borrower in connection with transactions of the type contemplated by the Credit Agreement.
    4. My opinion in paragraph (f) above as to the legality, validity, binding nature and enforceability of the Credit Agreement is given in reliance upon a legal opinion of even date herewith of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, New York counsel to the Borrower, and is subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications contained therein. A copy of the legal opinion of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, is being provided to you contemporaneously herewith.

Notwithstanding the qualifications set forth above, I have no actual knowledge of any matter within the scope of said qualifications that would cause me to change the opinions set forth in this letter.

I am licensed to practice law only in the State of Louisiana and, except as otherwise provided herein, my role as counsel to the Borrower is limited to matters involving the laws of the State of Louisiana and the federal laws of the United States of America. Except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth herein, and except with respect to matters governed by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, I render no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction or any subdivision thereof, and have made no independent investigation into any such laws except as specifically provided herein.

My opinions are expressed as of the date hereof, and I do not assume any obligation to update or supplement my opinions to reflect any fact or circumstance that hereafter comes to my attention, or any change in law that hereafter occurs.

This opinion letter is being provided exclusively to and for the benefit of the addressees hereof. It is not to be furnished to or relied upon by any other party for any other purpose, without prior express written authorization from me, except that (A)  Thelen Reid & Priest LLP may rely hereon in connection with their opinion to you of even date herewith on behalf of the Borrower as to matters of New York law; and (B) any addressee of this letter may deliver a copy hereof to any person that becomes a Lender under the Credit Agreement after the date hereof, and such person may rely on this opinion as if it had been addressed and delivered to it on the date hereof as an original Bank that was a party to the Credit Agreement.

Very truly yours,

 

Denise C. Redmann
Assistant General Counsel

 

[DATE]

 

To each of the Lenders parties to the
Credit Agreement referred to below,
and to Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent

 

Denise C. Redmann, Esq.
Entergy Services, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113

 

Entergy Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special New York counsel to Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement"), among the Borrower, the Banks parties thereto and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders thereunder. This opinion is being furnished to you at the request of the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(v) of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.

In this connection, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) counterparts of the Credit Agreement executed by the Borrower; (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and the By-Laws of the Borrower; (iii) a certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated June [ ], 2005, attesting to the continued corporate existence and good standing of the Borrower in that state; (iv) a certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana, dated June [ ], 2005, attesting that the Borrower is a foreign corporation duly qualified to conduct business in that state; (v) a copy of the Order, dated April 3, 2001, of the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 70-9749) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended; (vi) the other documents furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.01(a) of the Credit Agreement; and (vii) such other documents and corporate records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the opinions expressed herein.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies. With respect to the Borrower and each of the other parties to the Credit Agreement, we have assumed (i) that those parties are duly organized and have the power and capacity to execute, deliver and perform all obligations under such documents, and (ii) the due authorization, execution and delivery of such documents by those parties. Regarding documents executed by parties other than the Borrower, we have assumed the validity and binding effect of such documents upon those parties.

We have also assumed that all required regulatory approvals have been obtained and compliance with said approvals.

As to any facts that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied without independent investigation upon statements, representations and certificates of officers of the Borrower, and, as to the matters addressed therein, upon certificates or communications from public officials.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications hereinafter expressed, it is our opinion that the Credit Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

Our opinion is subject to the following qualifications:

(a) The enforceability of the Borrower's obligations under the Credit Agreement is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar law affecting creditors' rights generally.

(b) The enforceability of the Borrower's obligations under the Credit Agreement is subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including (without limitation) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Such principles of equity are of general application, and, in applying such principles, a court, among other things, might not allow a contracting party to exercise remedies in respect of a default deemed immaterial, or might decline to order an obligor to perform covenants.

(c) We note further that, in addition to the application of equitable principles described above, courts have imposed an obligation on contracting parties to act reasonably and in good faith in the exercise of their contractual rights and remedies, and may also apply public policy considerations in limiting the right of parties seeking to obtain indemnification under circumstances where the conduct of such parties is determined to have constituted negligence.

(d) We express no opinion herein as to (i) Section 8.05 of the Credit Agreement, (ii) the enforceability of provisions purporting to grant to a party conclusive rights of determination, (iii) the availability of specific performance or other equitable remedies, (iv) the enforceability of rights to indemnity under federal or state securities laws, or (v) the enforceability of waivers by parties of their respective rights and remedies under law.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we express no opinion as to the effect of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York wherein any Lender may be located or wherein enforcement of the Credit Agreement may be sought that limits the rate of interest legally chargeable or collectible.

This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit and, except as stated in the following sentences of this paragraph, may not be relied upon by any other party, nor may copies be delivered to any other Person, without our prior written consent. We are aware that Denise C. Redmann, Esq. will rely upon this opinion in rendering her opinion, dated as of the date hereof, to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, and we hereby authorize such reliance. The Lenders and the Administrative Agent are hereby authorized to deliver a copy of this opinion to any Person that becomes a Lender under the Credit Agreement after the date hereof, and any such Person may rely upon this opinion as if it had been addressed and delivered to it on the date hereof as an original Bank that was a party to the Credit Agreement.

This opinion is limited to laws currently in effect on the date hereof and to the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise, supplement or otherwise update this opinion.

Very truly yours,


THELEN REID & PRIEST LLP

 

 

EX-4 6 a4g.htm

Exhibit 4(g)

 

U.S. $60,000,000

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of June 30, 2005

 

Among

ENTERGY CORPORATION

as Borrower

THE BANKS NAMED HEREIN

 

as Banks

 

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH

as Administrative Agent

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH

as Arranger

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT

Dated as of June 30, 2005

ENTERGY CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the banks (the "Banks") listed on the signature pages hereof and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch ("HypoVereinsbank"), as administrative agent (the "Administrative Agent") for the Lenders hereunder, agree with reference to the following facts:

RECITALS

    1. The Borrower, Banks and Administrative Agent are party to the Existing Credit Agreement (as defined below) and each party thereto desires to amend and restate the Existing Credit Agreement in its entirety by this Agreement (to be effective on the Effective Date).
    2. Pending the Effective Date, the Existing Credit Agreement shall remain in effect.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS

    SECTION 1.01.    Certain Defined Terms.

As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined):

"Advance" means an advance by a Lender to the Borrower as part of a Borrowing and refers to a Base Rate Advance or a Eurodollar Rate Advance, each of which shall be a "Type" of Advance.

"Affiliate" means, as to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such Person or is a director or officer of such Person.

"Agreement" means this Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.

"Applicable Lending Office" means, with respect to each Lender, such Lender's Domestic Lending Office in the case of a Base Rate Advance and such Lender's Eurodollar Lending Office in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance.

"Applicable Margin" means, (i) for any Base Rate Advance, the Base Rate Margin interest rate per annum set forth below in the columns identified as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6, and (ii) for any Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Eurodollar Margin interest rate per annum set forth below in the columns identified as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, Level 4, Level 5 and Level 6, in each case, determined by reference to the Relevant Ratings.
 

  Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 Level 6



S&P

Moody's
 



Relevant
Ratings
at least A+
or
A1
Relevant
Ratings Less
than
Level 1 but
at least A
or
A2
Relevant
Ratings Less
than
Level 2 but
at least A-
or
A3
Relevant
Ratings Less
than
Level 3 but
at least BBB+
or
Baa1
Relevant
Ratings
Less than
Level 4 but at
least BBB
or
Baa2



Relevant
Ratings below
BBB* and
Baa2*
Interest Rate Per Annum            
Eurodollar Margin 0.400% 0.500% 0.600% 0.750% 0.875% 1.125%
Base Rate Margin 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.000% 0.500%
             

*or unrated

Any change in the Applicable Margin will be effective as of the date on which S&P or Moody's, as the case may be, announces the applicable change in any Senior Debt Rating.

"Approved Fund" means, with respect to any Lender that is a fund that invests in bank loans, any other fund that invests in commercial loans and is managed or advised by the same investment advisor as such Lender or by an Affiliate of such investment advisor.

"Assignment and Acceptance" means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an assignee of that Lender, and accepted by the Administrative Agent, in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto.

"Available Commitment" means, as to any Lender at any time of determination, an amount equal to the excess of (a) such Lender's Commitment over (b) the aggregate principal amount of such Lender's Advances then outstanding.

"Base Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum at all times equal to the higher of:

    1. the rate of interest announced by HypoVereinsbank in New York, New York to its customers, from time to time, as HypoVereinsbank's base rate; and
    2. 1/2 of 1% per annum above the Federal Funds Rate in effect from time to time.

"Base Rate Advance" means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.05(a).

"Borrowing" means a borrowing consisting of simultaneous Advances of the same Type made by each of the Lenders pursuant to Section 2.01 or Converted pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.08.

"Business Day" means a day of the year on which banks are not required or authorized to close in New York City and, if the applicable Business Day relates to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, on which dealings are carried on in the London interbank market.

"Capitalization" means, as of any date of determination, with respect to the Borrower and its subsidiaries determined on a consolidated basis, an amount equal to the sum of (i) the total principal amount of all Debt of the Borrower and its subsidiaries outstanding on such date, (ii) Consolidated Net Worth as of such date and (iii) to the extent not otherwise included in Capitalization, all preferred stock and other preferred securities of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, including preferred securities issued by any subsidiary trust, outstanding on such date.

"Commitment" has the meaning specified in Section 2.01.

"Common Equity" shall mean the stock, shares or other ownership interests in the issuer thereof howsoever evidenced (including, without limitation, limited liability company membership interests) that has ordinary voting power for the election of directors, managers or trustees (or other persons performing similar functions) of the issuer, as applicable, provided that Preferred Equity, even if it has such ordinary voting power, shall not be Common Equity.

"Consolidated Net Worth" means the sum of the capital stock (excluding treasury stock and capital stock subscribed for and unissued) and surplus (including earned surplus, capital surplus and the balance of the current profit and loss account not transferred to surplus) accounts of the Borrower and its subsidiaries appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries prepared as of the date of determination in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e), after eliminating all intercompany transactions and all amounts properly attributable to minority interests, if any, in the stock and surplus of subsidiaries.

"Convert", "Conversion" and "Converted" each refers to a conversion of Advances of one Type into Advances of another Type or the selection of a new, or the renewal of the same, Interest Period for Eurodollar Rate Advances pursuant to Section 2.07 or 2.08.

"Debt" of any Person means (without duplication) all liabilities, obligations and indebtedness (whether contingent or otherwise) of such Person (i) for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes, or other similar instruments, (ii) to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than such obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business on customary trade terms, provided that such obligations are not more than 30 days past due), (iii) as lessee under leases which shall have been or should be, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, recorded as capital leases, (iv) under reimbursement agreements or similar agreements with respect to the issuance of letters of credit (other than obligations in respect of letters of credit opened to provide for the payment of goods or services purchased in the ordinary course of business), (v) under any Guaranty Obligations and (vi) liabilities in r espect of unfunded vested benefits under plans covered by Title IV of ERISA.

"Domestic Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Domestic Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender, or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

"Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary" means a direct or indirect domestic subsidiary of the Borrower engaged in generation, transmission or distribution of electricity or the transmission or distribution of natural gas that is regulated as to rates on a cost of service basis by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (or successor agency) or a state or local governmental body.

"Effective Date" means June [30], 2005.

"Eligible Assignee" means a Person (a) (i) that is (A) a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States, or any State thereof, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000; (B) a commercial bank organized under the laws of any other country which is a member of the OECD, or a political subdivision of any such country, and having total assets in excess of $500,000,000, provided that such bank is acting through a branch or agency located in the United States or another country which is also a member of OECD; or (C) a Lender, a financial institution Affiliate of any Lender or an Approved Fund of any Lender immediately prior to an assignment and (ii) whose long-term public senior debt securities are rated at least "BBB-" by S&P or at least "Baa3" by Moody's; or (b) that is approved by the Borrower (whose approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and the Administrative Agent.

"Entergy Arkansas" means Entergy Arkansas, Inc., an Arkansas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Entergy Gulf States" means Entergy Gulf States, Inc., a Texas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Entergy Louisiana" means Entergy Louisiana, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Entergy Mississippi" means Entergy Mississippi, Inc., a Mississippi corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Entergy New Orleans" means Entergy New Orleans, Inc., a Louisiana corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Environmental Laws" means any federal, state or local laws, ordinances or codes, rules, orders, or regulations relating to pollution or protection of the environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to hazardous substances, laws relating to reclamation of land and waterways and laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of pollutants, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata) or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollution, contaminants, chemicals, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.

"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder, each as amended and modified from time to time.

"ERISA Affiliate" of a Person or entity means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that is a member of a group of which such Person or entity is a member and that is under common control with such Person or entity within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and the regulations promulgated and rulings issued thereunder, each as amended or modified from time to time.

"ERISA Plan" means an employee benefit plan maintained for employees of any Person or any ERISA Affiliate of such Person subject to Title IV of ERISA.

"ERISA Termination Event" means (i) a Reportable Event described in Section 4043 of ERISA and the regulations issued thereunder (other than a Reportable Event not subject to the provision for 30-day notice to PBGC), or (ii) the withdrawal of the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates from an ERISA Plan during a plan year in which the Borrower or any of its ERISA Affiliates was a "substantial employer" as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA, or (iii) the filing of a notice of intent to terminate an ERISA Plan or the treatment of an ERISA Plan amendment as a termination under Section 4041 of ERISA, or (iv) the institution of proceedings to terminate an ERISA Plan by the PBGC or to appoint a trustee to administer any ERISA Plan, or (v) any other event or condition that would constitute grounds under Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee to administer any ERISA Plan.

"Eurocurrency Liabilities" has the meaning assigned to that term in Regulation D of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, as in effect from time to time.

"Eurodollar Lending Office" means, with respect to any Lender, the office of such Lender specified as its "Eurodollar Lending Office" opposite its name on Schedule I hereto or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender (or, if no such office is specified, its Domestic Lending Office), or such other office of such Lender as such Lender may from time to time specify to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

"Eurodollar Rate" means, for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the same Borrowing, an interest rate per annum equal to the average (rounded upward to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16 of 1% per annum, if such average is not such a multiple) of the rate per annum at which deposits in U.S. dollars are offered by the principal office of the Reference Bank in London, England, to prime banks in the London interbank market at 11:00 A.M. (London time) two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period in an amount substantially equal to such Reference Bank's Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of such Borrowing and for a period equal to such Interest Period. The Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the same Borrowing shall be determined by the Administrative Agent on the basis of applicable rates furnished to and received by the Administrative Age nt from the Reference Bank two Business Days before the first day of such Interest Period, subject, however, to the provisions of Section 2.07.

"Eurodollar Rate Advance" means an Advance that bears interest as provided in Section 2.05(b).

"Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage" of any Lender for the Interest Period for any Eurodollar Rate Advance means the reserve percentage applicable during such Interest Period (or if more than one such percentage shall be so applicable, the daily average of such percentages for those days in such Interest Period during which any such percentage shall be so applicable) under regulations issued from time to time by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any successor) for determining the maximum reserve requirement (including, without limitation, any emergency, supplemental or other marginal reserve requirement) for such Lender with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities having a term equal to such Interest Period.

"Events of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.

"Existing Credit Agreement" means the Credit Agreement, dated as of May 31, 2002, as amended by the First Amendment, dated as of June 6, 2003, among the Borrower, the banks named therein and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent.

"Federal Funds Rate" means, for any period, a fluctuating interest rate per annum equal for each day during such period to the weighted average of the rates on overnight Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions received by the Administrative Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing selected by it.

"Fee Letter" means that certain letter agreement, dated as of June [ ], 2005, between the Borrower and the Administrative Agent.

"Granting Lender" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(i).

"Guaranty Obligations" means (i) direct or indirect guaranties in respect of, and obligations to purchase or otherwise acquire, or otherwise to assure a creditor against loss in respect of, Debt of any Person and (ii) other guaranty or similar obligations in respect of the financial obligations of others, including, without limitation, Support Obligations.

"Interest Period" means, for each Advance made as part of the same Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Advance or the date of the Conversion of any Advance into such an Advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below and, thereafter, each subsequent period commencing on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower pursuant to the provisions below. The duration of each such Interest Period shall be 1, 2, 3 or 6 months (or any period of less than one month that ends on the Maturity Date) in the case of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, as the Borrower may, upon notice received by the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the first day of such Interest Period, select; provided, however, that:

    1. the Borrower may not select any Interest Period that ends after the Maturity Date;
    2. Interest Periods commencing on the same date for Advances made as part of the same Borrowing shall be of the same duration;
    3. whenever the last day of any Interest Period would otherwise occur on a day other than a Business Day, the last day of such Interest Period shall be extended to occur on the next succeeding Business Day, provided, in the case of any Interest Period for a Eurodollar Rate Advance, that if such extension would cause the last day of such Interest Period to occur in the next following calendar month, the last day of such Interest Period shall occur on the next preceding Business Day; and
    4. the Borrower shall select Interest Periods so that at no time shall the Interest Periods for all outstanding Eurodollar Rate Advances end on more than 4 different dates.

"Junior Subordinated Debentures" means any junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures issued by any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans from time to time.

"Lenders" means the Banks listed on the signature pages hereof and each Person that shall become a party hereto pursuant to Section 8.07.

"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset. For the purposes of this Agreement, a Person or any of its subsidiaries shall be deemed to own, subject to a Lien, any asset that it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.

"Majority Lenders" means at any time Lenders to which are owed more than 50% of the then aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or, if no such principal amount is then outstanding, Lenders having more than 50% of the Commitments (without giving effect to any termination in whole of the Commitments pursuant to Section 6.02), provided, that for purposes hereof, neither the Borrower, nor any of its Affiliates, if a Lender, shall be included in (i) the Lenders holding such amount of the Advances or having such amount of the Commitments or (ii) determining the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances or the total Commitments.

"Maturity Date" means June 30 , 2010.

"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or any successor thereto.

"Multiemployer Plan" means a "multiemployer plan" as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding three plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

"Net Available Cash" from a Stock Disposition means cash payments received therefrom net of all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all federal, state and local taxes required to be paid or accrued as a liability under generally accepted accounting principles, as a result of such Stock Disposition.

"Non-Recourse Debt" means any Debt of any subsidiary of the Borrower that does not constitute Debt of the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans.

"Notice of Borrowing" has the meaning specified in Section 2.02(a).

Notice of Conversion" has the meaning specified in Section 2.08(a).

"OECD" means the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and any entity succeeding to any or all of its functions under ERISA.

"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation (including a business trust), joint stock company, trust, unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity, or a government or any political subdivision or agency thereof.

"Preferred Equity" shall mean any stock, shares or other ownership interests in the issuer thereof howsoever evidenced (including, without limitation, limited liability company membership interests), whether with or without voting rights, that is entitled to dividends or distributions prior to the payment of dividends or distributions with respect to Common Equity.

"Prepayment Event" means the occurrence of any event or the existence of any condition under any agreement or instrument relating to any Debt of a Significant Subsidiary that is outstanding in a principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate, which occurrence or event results in the declaration of such Debt being due and payable, or required to be prepaid (other than by a regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof.

"Reference Bank" means HypoVereinsbank.

"Register" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(c).

"Relevant Ratings" means the Senior Debt Ratings of Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana or Entergy Mississippi assigned by Moody's and S&P that constitute the second lowest Senior Debt Ratings of all such Persons assigned by Moody's and S&P.

"Reportable Event" has the meaning assigned to that term in Title IV of ERISA.

"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., or any successor thereto.

"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

"SEC Order" has the meaning specified in Section 3.01(a)(iii).

"Senior Debt Rating" means, as to any Person, the rating assigned by Moody's or S&P to the senior secured long-term debt of such Person.

"SERI" means Systems Energy Resources, Inc., an Arkansas corporation, or its successors and permitted assigns.

"Significant Subsidiary" means Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, SERI and any other Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary of the Borrower: (i) the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of which exceed 5% of the total assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries or (ii) the net worth of which exceeds 5% of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, in each case as shown on the most recent audited consolidated balance sheet of the Borrower and its subsidiaries. In no event shall "Significant Subsidiary" include any Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiary that as of March 31, 2005, (i) had total assets (after intercompany eliminations) that were 5% or less of the total assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of such date or (ii) had a net worth that was 5% or less of the Consolidated Net Worth of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of such date.

"SPC" has the meaning specified in Section 8.07(i).

"Stock Disposition" means, with respect to any Person, the issuance, sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of (whether in one transaction or in a series of transactions) any Common Equity (or stock or other instruments convertible into Common Equity) of such Person.

"Support Obligations" means any financial obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person guaranteeing or otherwise supporting any Debt or other obligation of any other Person in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including, without limitation, any obligation of such Person, direct or indirect, (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Debt, (ii) to purchase property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Debt of the payment of such Debt, (iii) to maintain working capital, equity capital, available cash or other financial statement condition of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Debt, (iv) to provide equity capital under or in respect of equity subscription arrangements so as to assure any Person with respect to the payment of such Debt or the performance of such obligation, or (v) to provide financial support for the performance of, or to arrange for the performance of, any non-monetary obligations or non-funded debt payment obligations (including, without limitation, guaranties of payments under power purchase or other similar arrangements) of the primary obligor.

    SECTION 1.02.    Computation of Time Periods.

In this Agreement in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word "from" means "from and including" and the words "to" and "until" each means "to but excluding".

    SECTION 1.03.   Accounting Terms.

All accounting terms not specifically defined herein shall be construed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) hereof.


ARTICLE II
AMOUNTS AND TERMS OF THE ADVANCES

    SECTION 2.01.   The Advances.

Each Lender severally agrees, on the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth, to make Advances to the Borrower on the Effective Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any time outstanding the amount set opposite such Lender's name on Schedule II hereto or, if such Lender has entered into any Assignment and Acceptance, set forth for such Lender in the Register maintained by the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 8.07(c) (such Lender's "Commitment"). Each Borrowing shall be in an amount not less than $5,000,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000,000 in excess thereof and shall consist of Advances of the same Type and, in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, having the same Interest Period made or Converted on the same day by the Lenders ratably according to their respective Commitments. At no time may the principal amount outstanding hereunder exceed the aggregate amount of the Commitments; provided further that, the aggregate amo unt of the Commitments shall not exceed $60,000,000.

    SECTION 2.02.   Making the Advances.

    1. Each Borrowing shall be made on notice, given (i) in the case of a Borrowing comprising Eurodollar Rate Advances, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Borrowing, and (ii) in the case of a Borrowing comprising Base Rate Advances, not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the date of the proposed Borrowing, by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent, which shall give to each Lender prompt notice thereof. Each such notice of a Borrowing (a "Notice of Borrowing") shall be transmitted by telecopier, telex or cable, confirmed immediately in writing, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-1 hereto, specifying therein the requested (A) date of such Borrowing, (B) Type of Advances to be made in connection with such Borrowing, (C) aggregate amount of such Borrowing, (D) the Borrower's wire instructions, and (E) in the case of a Borrowing com prising Eurodollar Rate Advances, initial Interest Period for each such Advance. Each Lender shall, before (x) 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the date of any Borrowing comprising Eurodollar Rate Advances, and (y) 1:00 P.M. (New York City time) on the date of any Borrowing comprising Base Rate Advances, make available for the account of its Applicable Lending Office to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 8.02, in same day funds, such Lender's ratable portion of such Borrowing. After the Administrative Agent's receipt of such funds and upon fulfillment of the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, the Administrative Agent will make such funds available to the Borrower at the Administrative Agent's aforesaid address.
    2. Each Notice of Borrowing shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Notice of Borrowing requesting Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Borrower shall indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender as a result of any failure to fulfill on or before the date specified in such Notice of Borrowing for such Borrowing the applicable conditions set forth in Article III, including, without limitation, any loss, cost or expense incurred by reason of the liquidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by such Lender to fund the Advance to be made by such Lender as part of such Borrowing when such Advance, as a result of such failure, is not made on such date.
    3. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from a Lender prior to the date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender's ratable portion of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such portion available to the Administrative Agent on the date of such Borrowing in accordance with subsection (a) of this Section 2.02 and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the Borrower on such date a corresponding amount. If and to the extent that such Lender shall not have so made such ratable portion available to the Administrative Agent, such Lender and the Borrower (following the Administrative Agent's demand on such Lender for the corresponding amount) severally agree to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such corresponding amount together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is made available t o the Borrower until the date such amount is repaid to the Administrative Agent, at (i) in the case of the Borrower, the interest rate applicable at the time to Advances made in connection with such Borrowing and (ii) in the case of such Lender, the Federal Funds Rate. If such Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent such corresponding amount, such amount so repaid shall constitute such Lender's Advance as part of such Borrowing for purposes of this Agreement.
    4. The failure of any Lender to make the Advance to be made by it as part of any Borrowing shall not relieve any other Lender of its obligation, if any, hereunder to make its Advance on the date of such Borrowing, but no Lender shall be responsible for the failure of any other Lender to make the Advance to be made by such other Lender on the date of any Borrowing.

    SECTION 2.03.   Intentionally Omitted

    SECTION 2.04.   Repayment of Advances, Etc.

The Borrower shall repay the principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender and Converted from time to time on the Maturity Date.

    SECTION 2.05.   Interest on Advances.

The Borrower shall pay interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Advance made by each Lender from the date of such Advance until such principal amount shall be paid in full, at the following rates per annum:

    1. Base Rate Advances. If such Advance is a Base Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times to the Base Rate in effect from time to time plus the Applicable Margin for such Base Rate Advance in effect from time to time, payable quarterly on the last day of each March, June, September and December and on the date such Base Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full.
    2. Eurodollar Rate Advances. Subject to Section 2.06, if such Advance is a Eurodollar Rate Advance, a rate per annum equal at all times during the Interest Period for such Advance to the sum of the Eurodollar Rate for such Interest Period plus the Applicable Margin for such Eurodollar Rate Advance in effect from time to time, payable on the last day of each Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advance and on the date such Eurodollar Rate Advance shall be Converted or paid in full and, if such Interest Period has a duration of more than three months, on each day that occurs during such Interest Period every three months from the first day of such Interest Period.

    SECTION 2.06.   Additional Interest on Eurodollar Rate Advances.

The Borrower shall pay to each Lender, so long as such Lender shall be required under regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to maintain reserves with respect to liabilities or assets consisting of or including Eurocurrency Liabilities, additional interest on the unpaid principal amount of each Eurodollar Rate Advance of such Lender, from the date of such Advance until such principal amount is paid in full, at an interest rate per annum equal at all times to the remainder obtained by subtracting (i) the Eurodollar Rate for the Interest Period for such Advance from (ii) the rate obtained by dividing such Eurodollar Rate by a percentage equal to 100% minus the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage of such Lender for such Interest Period, payable on each date on which interest is payable on such Advance. Such additional interest shall be determined by such Lender and notified to the Borrower through the Administrative Agent, and such determi nation shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

    SECTION 2.07.   Interest Rate Determination.

    1. The Reference Bank agrees to furnish to the Administrative Agent timely information for the purpose of determining each Eurodollar Rate.
    2. The Administrative Agent shall give prompt notice to the Borrower and the Lenders of the applicable interest rate determined by the Administrative Agent for purposes of Section 2.05(a).
    3. If, with respect to any Eurodollar Rate Advances, the Majority Lenders notify the Administrative Agent that the Eurodollar Rate for any Interest Period for such Advances will not adequately reflect the cost to such Majority Lenders of making, funding or maintaining their respective Eurodollar Rate Advances for such Interest Period, the Administrative Agent shall forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, whereupon

    1. each Eurodollar Rate Advance will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into a Base Rate Advance, and
    2. the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist.

    SECTION 2.08.   Conversion of Advances.

    1. Voluntary. The Borrower may, upon notice given to the Administrative Agent not later than 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on the third Business Day prior to the date of the proposed Conversion and subject to the provisions of Sections 2.07 and 2.11, on any Business Day, Convert all Advances of one Type made in connection with the same Borrowing into Advances of another Type; provided, however, that any Conversion of, or with respect to, any Eurodollar Rate Advances into Advances of another Type shall be made on, and only on, the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurodollar Rate Advances, unless the Borrower shall also reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b) on the date of such Conversion. Each such notice of a Conversion (a "Notice of Conversion") shall be by telecopier, telex or cable, confirmed immediately in writing, in substantially the form of Exhibit A-2 hereto, specifying there in (i) the date of such Conversion, (ii) the Advances to be Converted, and (iii) if such Conversion is into, or with respect to, Eurodollar Rate Advances, the duration of the Interest Period for each such Advance.
    2. Mandatory. If a Borrower shall fail to select the Type of any Advance or the duration of any Interest Period for any Borrowing comprising Eurodollar Rate Advances in accordance with the provisions contained in the definition of "Interest Period" in Section 1.01 and Section 2.08(a), or if any proposed Conversion of a Borrowing that is to comprise Eurodollar Rate Advances upon Conversion shall not occur as a result of the circumstances described in paragraph (c) below, the Administrative Agent will forthwith so notify the Borrower and the Lenders, and such Advances will automatically, on the last day of the then existing Interest Period therefor, Convert into Base Rate Advances.
    3. Failure to Convert. Each Notice of Conversion given pursuant to subsection (a) above shall be irrevocable and binding on the Borrower. In the case of any Borrowing that is to comprise Eurodollar Rate Advances upon Conversion, the Borrower agrees to indemnify each Lender against any loss, cost or expense incurred by such Lender if, as a result of the failure of the Borrower to satisfy any condition to such Conversion (including, without limitation, the occurrence of any Prepayment Event or Event of Default, or any event that would constitute an Event of Default or a Prepayment Event with notice or lapse of time or both), such Conversion does not occur. The Borrower's obligations under this subsection (c) shall survive the repayment of all other amounts owing to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the termination of the Commitments.

    SECTION 2.09.   Prepayments.

The Borrower may, upon notice received by the Administrative Agent prior to 11:00 A.M. (New York City time) on any Business Day, with respect to Base Rate Advances, and upon at least two Business Days' notice to the Administrative Agent, with respect to Eurodollar Rate Advances, stating the proposed date and aggregate principal amount of the prepayment, and if such notice is given the Borrower shall, prepay the outstanding principal amounts of the Advances made as part of the same Borrowing in whole or ratably in part, together with accrued interest to the date of such prepayment on the principal amount prepaid; provided, however, that (i) each partial prepayment shall be in an aggregate principal amount not less than $1,000,000 or any integral multiple of $100,000 in excess thereof, (ii) in the case of any such prepayment of a Eurodollar Rate Advance, the Borrower shall be obligated to reimburse the Lenders in respect thereof pursuant to Section 8.04(b ) on the date of such prepayment, and (iii) in the case of any partial prepayment of the outstanding principal amount of the Advances, the aggregate principal amount of the Advances outstanding after giving effect to any such prepayment shall not be less than $10,000,000.00. Amounts so prepaid under this Section 2.09 may not be reborrowed.

    SECTION 2.10.   Increased Costs.

    1. If, due to either (i) the introduction of or any change (other than any change by way of imposition or increase of reserve requirements in the case of Eurodollar Rate Advances, included in the Eurodollar Rate Reserve Percentage) in or in the interpretation of any law or regulation or (ii) the compliance with any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law), there shall be any increase in the cost to any Lender of agreeing to make or making, funding or maintaining Eurodollar Rate Advances, then the Borrower shall from time to time, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender for such increased cost. A certificate as to the amount of such increased cost, submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender, shall be conclusiv e and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
    2. If any Lender determines that compliance with any law or regulation or any guideline or request from any central bank or other governmental authority (whether or not having the force of law) affects or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by such Lender or any corporation controlling such Lender and that the amount of such capital is increased by or based upon the existence of such Lender's commitment to lend hereunder and other commitments of this type (including such Lender's commitment to lend hereunder) or the Advances, then, upon demand by such Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), the Borrower shall immediately pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender, from time to time as specified by such Lender, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such Lender or such corporation in the light of such circumstances, to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines such increase in capital to be alloc able to the existence of such Lender's commitment to lend hereunder or the Advances made by such Lender. A certificate in reasonable detail as to such amounts submitted to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent by such Lender shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

    SECTION 2.11.   Illegality.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if any Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent that the introduction of, any change in or any change in the interpretation of any law or regulation makes it unlawful, or any central bank or other governmental authority asserts that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its Eurodollar Lending Office to perform its obligations hereunder to make Eurodollar Rate Advances or to fund or maintain Eurodollar Rate Advances hereunder, (i) the obligation of the Lenders to make, or to Convert Advances into, Eurodollar Rate Advances shall be suspended until the Administrative Agent shall notify the Borrower and the Lenders that the circumstances causing such suspension no longer exist and (ii) the Borrower shall forthwith prepay in full all Eurodollar Rate Advances of all Lenders then outstanding, together with interest accrued thereon, unless the Borrower, within five Business Days of notice from the Administrative Agent, Conver ts all Eurodollar Rate Advances of all Lenders then outstanding into Advances of another Type in accordance with Section 2.08.

    SECTION 2.12.   Payments and Computations.

    1. The Borrower shall make each payment hereunder not later than 12:00 noon (New York City time) on the day when due in United States dollars to the Administrative Agent at its address referred to in Section 8.02 in same day funds in accordance with the payment instructions set opposite the name of the Administrative Agent on Schedule I. The Administrative Agent will promptly thereafter cause to be distributed like funds relating to the payment of principal or interest ratably (other than amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.02(c), 2.06, 2.10, 2.13 or 8.04(b)) to the Lenders for the account of their respective Applicable Lending Offices, and like funds relating to the payment of any other amount payable to any Lender to such Lender for the account of its Applicable Lending Office, in each case to be applied in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. Upon its acceptance of an Assignment and Acceptance and recording of the information contained therein in the Register pursuant to Section 8.07(d), from and after the effective date specified in such Assignment and Acceptance, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments hereunder in respect of the interest assigned thereby to the Lender assignee thereunder, and the parties to such Assignment and Acceptance shall make all appropriate adjustments in such payments for periods prior to such effective date directly between themselves.
    2. The Borrower hereby authorizes each Lender, if and to the extent payment owed to such Lender is not made when due hereunder, to charge from time to time to the extent permitted by law against any or all of the Borrower's accounts with such Lender any amount so due.
    3. All computations of interest based on clause (i) of the definition of "Base Rate" shall be made by the Administrative Agent on the basis of a year of 365 or 366 days, as the case may be, and all computations of interest based on the Eurodollar Rate, the Federal Funds Rate or clause (ii) of the definition of "Base Rate" shall be made by the Administrative Agent, and all computations of interest pursuant to Section 2.07 shall be made by a Lender, on the basis of a year of 360 days, in each case for the actual number of days (including the first day but excluding the last day) occurring in the period for which such interest is payable. Each determination by the Administrative Agent (or, in the case of Section 2.07, by a Lender) of an interest rate hereunder shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.
    4. Whenever any payment hereunder shall be stated to be due on a day other than a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day, and such extension of time shall in such case be included in the computation of payment of interest; provided, however, if such extension would cause payment of interest on or principal of Eurodollar Rate Advances to be made in the next following calendar month, such payment shall be made on the next preceding Business Day.
    5. Unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Lenders hereunder that the Borrower will not make such payment in full, the Administrative Agent may assume that the Borrower has made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent on such date and the Administrative Agent may, in reliance upon such assumption, cause to be distributed to each Lender on such due date an amount equal to the amount then due such Lender. If and to the extent that the Borrower shall not have so made such payment in full to the Administrative Agent, each Lender shall repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand such amount distributed to such Lender together with interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount is distributed to such Lender until the date such Lender repays such amount to the Administrative Agent, at the Federal Funds Rate.
    6. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Advance or other amount payable by the Borrower hereunder that is not paid when due (whether at stated maturity, by acceleration or otherwise), and all Advances at any time an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, shall (to the fullest extent permitted by law) bear interest from the date when due until paid in full at a rate per annum equal at all times, in the case of each Advance, to the applicable interest rate (including the Applicable Margin) in effect from time to time for such Advance plus 2% per annum, and in the case of other amounts, to the Base Rate plus the Applicable Margin for Base Rate Advances plus 2% per annum, payable upon demand.

    SECTION 2.13.   Taxes.

    1. Any and all payments by the Borrower hereunder shall be made, in accordance with Section 2.12, free and clear of and without deduction for any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges or withholdings, and all liabilities with respect thereto, excluding, in the case of each Lender and the Administrative Agent, net income taxes and franchise taxes imposed in lieu of net income taxes on it, by the jurisdiction under the laws of which such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) is organized or any political subdivision thereof and, in the case of each Lender, net income taxes and franchise taxes imposed on it in lieu of net income taxes by the jurisdiction of such Lender's Applicable Lending Office or any political subdivision thereof (all such non-excluded taxes, levies, imposts, deductions, charges, withholdings and liabilities being hereinafter referred to as "Taxes"). If the Borrower shall be req uired by law to deduct any Taxes from or in respect of any sum payable hereunder to any Lender or the Administrative Agent, (i) the sum payable shall be increased (unless and to the extent that (x) the Borrower is required to deduct such Taxes because any Lender fails to comply with subsection (d) below or (y) such Taxes are imposed on amounts payable to such Lender at the time such Lender becomes a party to this Agreement, except to the extent such Lender's assignor, if any, was entitled at the time of assignment, to receive additional amounts from the Borrower pursuant to this Section 2.13(a) as may be necessary so that after making all required deductions (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.13) such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) receives an amount equal to the sum it would have received had no such deductions been made, (ii) the Borrower shall make such deductions and (iii) the Borrower shall pay the full amount deducted to the relevant taxation authority or other authority in accordance with applicable law. Whenever any Taxes are payable by the Borrower, as promptly as possible thereafter, the Borrower shall send to the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the original receipt received by the Borrower showing payment thereof.
    2. In addition, the Borrower agrees to pay any present or future stamp or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies which arise from any payment made hereunder or from the execution, delivery or registration of, or otherwise with respect to, this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as "Other Taxes").
    3. The Borrower will indemnify each Lender and the Administrative Agent for the full amount of Taxes or Other Taxes (including, without limitation, any Taxes or Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on amounts payable under this Section 2.13) paid by such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) and any liability (including penalties, interest and expenses) arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Taxes or Other Taxes were correctly or legally asserted. This indemnification shall be made within 30 days from the date such Lender or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) makes written demand therefor. Nothing herein shall preclude the right of the Borrower to contest any such Taxes or Other Taxes so paid, and the Lenders in question or the Administrative Agent (as the case may be) will, following notice from, and at the expense of, the Borrower, take such actions as the Borrower may reasonably request to preserve the Borrower's rights to contest such Taxes or Other Taxes, and, within 60 days following receipt of any refund of amounts with respect to Taxes or Other Taxes for which such Lenders or the Administrative Agent were previously indemnified under this Section 2.13, pay to the Borrower such refunded amounts (including any interest paid by the relevant taxing authority with respect to such amounts) to the extent of the indemnity payments made by the Borrower; provided, however, that the Borrower agrees to repay the amount paid over to the Borrower if such Lender or the Administrative Agent is required to repay such refund.
    4. Prior to the date of the initial Borrowing in the case of each Bank, and on the date of the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender in the case of each other Lender, and from time to time thereafter if reasonably requested by the Borrower or the Administrative Agent, each Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States shall provide the Administrative Agent and the Borrower with the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States certifying that such Lender is exempt from or eligible for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding taxes with respect to all payments to be made to such Lender hereunder. Each Lender shall deliver forms pursuant to this Section 2.13(d) showing eligibility for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax, rather than a complete exemption therefrom, only as a result of a change in treaty, law or regulation that occurs after the date such Lender becomes a party to t his Agreement; provided, however, that a Lender whose assignor, if any, was entitled at the time of assignment to a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax, rather than a complete exemption therefrom, as a result of a change in treaty, law or regulation that occurred after the date such assignor became a party to this Agreement shall be entitled to deliver a form showing eligibility for a reduced rate of United States federal withholding tax to the extent that such assignor was so entitled. If for any reason during the term of this Agreement, any Lender becomes unable to submit the forms referred to above or the information or representations contained therein are no longer accurate in any material respect, such Lender shall notify the Administrative Agent and the Borrower in writing to that effect. Unless the Borrower and the Administrative Agent have received forms or other documents satisfactory to them indicating that payments hereunder are not subject to United States federa l withholding tax, the Borrower or, if the Borrower fails to do so, the Administrative Agent, shall withhold taxes from such payments at the applicable statutory rate in the case of payments to or for any Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph, a Lender organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside of the United States shall not be required to deliver any form that such Lender is not legally able to deliver.
    5. Any Lender claiming any additional amounts payable pursuant to this Section 2.13 shall use its reasonable efforts (consistent with its internal policy and legal and regulatory restrictions) to change the jurisdiction of its Applicable Lending Office, change its Applicable Lending Office to another office of the Lender or take other actions customary or otherwise reasonable under the circumstances if the making of such a change or the taking of such actions would avoid the need for, or reduce the amount of, any such additional amounts which may thereafter accrue and would not, in the sole judgment of such Lender, cause such Lender to suffer economic, legal or regulatory disadvantage. Nothing in this subsection 2.13(e) shall postpone any of the obligations of the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.13.
    6. Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreement of the Borrower hereunder, the agreements and obligations of the Borrower contained in this Section 2.13 shall survive the payment in full of principal and interest hereunder.

    SECTION 2.14.   Sharing of Payments, Etc.

If any Lender shall obtain any payment (whether voluntary, involuntary, through the exercise of any right of set-off, or otherwise) on account of the Advances made by it (other than pursuant to Section 2.02(c), 2.06, 2.10, 2.13 or 8.04(b)) in excess of its ratable share of payments on account of the Advances obtained by all the Lenders, such Lender shall forthwith purchase from the other Lenders such participations in the Advances made by them as shall be necessary to cause such purchasing Lender to share the excess payment ratably with each of them, provided, however, that if all or any portion of such excess payment is thereafter recovered from such purchasing Lender, such purchase from each Lender shall be rescinded and such Lender shall repay to the purchasing Lender the purchase price to the extent of such recovery together with an amount equal to such Lender's ratable share (according to the proportion of (i) the amount of such Lender's required repaym ent to (ii) the total amount so recovered from the purchasing Lender) of any interest or other amount paid or payable by the purchasing Lender in respect of the total amount so recovered. The Borrower agrees that any Lender so purchasing a participation from another Lender pursuant to this Section 2.14 may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, exercise all its rights of payment (including the right of set-off) with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were the direct creditor of the Borrower in the amount of such participation.

    SECTION 2.15.   Noteless Agreement; Evidence of Indebtedness.

    1. Each Lender shall maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the indebtedness of the Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Advance made by such Lender from time to time, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.
    2. The Administrative Agent shall also maintain accounts in which it will record (i) the amount of each Advance made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period (if any) with respect thereto, (ii) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the Borrower to each Lender hereunder, and (iii) the amount of any sum received by the Administrative Agent hereunder from the Borrower and each Lender's share thereof.
    3. The entries maintained in the accounts maintained pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) above shall be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations therein recorded; provided, however, that the failure of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to maintain such accounts or any error therein shall not in any manner affect the obligation of the Borrower to repay such obligations in accordance with their terms.
    4. Any Lender may request that its Advances be evidenced by one or more promissory notes. In such event, the Borrower shall prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender one or more promissory notes payable to the order of such Lender and in a form acceptable to the Borrower and the Administrative Agent. Thereafter, the Advances evidenced by such note(s) and interest thereon shall at all times (including after any assignment pursuant to Section 8.07) be represented by notes from the Borrower, payable to the order of the payee named therein or any assignee pursuant to Section 8.07, except to the extent that any such Lender or assignee subsequently returns any such notes for cancellation and requests that such Borrowings once again be evidenced as in subsections (a) and (b) above.

ARTICLE  III
CONDITIONS OF LENDING

    SECTION 3.01.   Conditions Precedent to Effective Date.

This Agreement shall become effective on and as of the Effective Date, subject to the satisfaction on or prior thereto of the following conditions precedent:

    1. The Administrative Agent shall have received the following, each dated the same date (except for the financial statements referred to in paragraph (iv) below), in form and substance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (except for the notes described in paragraph (i)) with one copy for each Lender:

    1. A promissory note payable to the order of each Lender that requests one pursuant to Section 2.15.
    2. Certified copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Borrower approving this Agreement, and of all documents evidencing other necessary corporate action with respect to this Agreement;
    3. A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Borrower certifying (A) the names and true signatures of the officers of the Borrower authorized to sign this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder; (B) that attached thereto are true and correct copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and the By Laws of the Borrower, in each case in effect on such date; and (C) that attached thereto are true and correct copies of all governmental and regulatory authorizations and approvals required for the due execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, including, without limitation, a copy of the order dated June 30, 2004 (File No. 70-10202) of the SEC under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, authorizing the Borrower to obtain Borrowings and to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement (the "SEC Order");
    4. Copies of the consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004, and the related consolidated statements of income, retained earnings and cash flows of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the fiscal year then ended, and copies of the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005, in each case certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied; and
    5. A favorable opinion of counsel for the Borrower, acceptable to the Administrative Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto and as to such other matters as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request and a favorable opinion of special New York counsel for the Borrower, Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.

b.    The Administrative Agent shall have received the fees payable pursuant to the Fee Letter.
c.    The costs and expenses of the Administrative Agent's counsel in connection with the preparation of this Agreement, and invoiced prior to the Effective Date, shall have been paid by the Borrower.
d.    All Advances under, and all breakage costs, if any, associated with the termination of Eurodollar Rate Advances under, the Existing Credit Agreement shall have been repaid or paid, as the case may be.

    SECTION 3.02.   Conditions Precedent to Each Borrowing.

The obligation of each Lender to make an Advance on the occasion of each Borrowing (including the initial Borrowing) shall be subject to the further conditions precedent that on the date of such Borrowing:

    1. the following statements shall be true (and each of the giving of the applicable Notice of Borrowing or Notice of Conversion and the acceptance by the Borrower of any proceeds of a Borrowing shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Borrower that on the date of such Borrowing or Conversion, as applicable, such statements are true):

    1. The representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 (excluding those contained in subsections (e) and (f) thereof except in the case of the initial Borrowing) are correct on and as of the date of such Borrowing, before and after giving effect to such Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and
    2. No event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default with notice or lapse of time or both.

    1. The Administrative Agent shall have received such other approvals, opinions or documents with respect to the truth of the foregoing statements (i) and (ii) as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

    SECTION 4.01.   Representations and Warranties of the Borrower.

The Borrower represents and warrants as follows:

    1. The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the property owned, operated or leased by it requires such qualification, except where failure to so qualify would not materially adversely affect its condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties, or prospects.
    2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action, and do not contravene (i) the Borrower's charter or by-laws, (ii) law applicable to the Borrower or its properties, or (iii) any contractual or legal restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower or its properties.
    3. No authorization or approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of this Agreement, including obtaining any Advances, except for the following (each of which has been duly filed or obtained, and is final and in full force and effect): (A) the filing of the Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto in File No. 70-10202 and (B) the SEC Order.
    4. This Agreement is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms, subject, however, to any applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, rearrangement, moratorium or similar laws affecting generally the enforcement of creditors' rights and remedies and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
    5. The consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and for the year ended on such date, as set forth in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended on such date, as filed with the SEC, accompanied by an opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP, and the consolidated financial statements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of March 31, 2005, and for the three-month period ended on such date set forth in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended on such date, as filed with the SEC, copies of each of which have been furnished to each Bank, fairly present (subject, in the case of such statements dated March 31, 2005, to year-end adjustments) the consolidated financial condition of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as at such dates and the consolidated results of the operations of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the periods ended on such dates, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied. Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal period ended March 31, 2005, since December 31, 2004, there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition or operations of the Borrower.
    6. Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, and the Borrower's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 18, 2005 (filed May 19, 2005), dated May 13, 2005 (filed May 19, 2005), dated May 25, 2005 (filed June 1, 2005), and dated June 1, 2005 (filed June 14, 2005), there is no pending or threatened action or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower or on its ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or that purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of this Agreement. There has been no change in any matter disclosed in such filings that could reasonably be expected to result in such a material adverse effect.
    7. No event has occurred and is continuing that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or that would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.
    8. The Borrower is not engaged in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), and not more than 25% of the value of the assets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries subject to the restrictions of Section 5.02(a), (c) or (d) is, on the date hereof, represented by margin stock (within the meaning of Regulation U issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System).
    9. The Borrower is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or an "investment advisor" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Borrower is a "holding company" as that term is defined in, and is registered under, the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended.
    10. No ERISA Termination Event has occurred, or is reasonably expected to occur, with respect to any ERISA Plan that may materially and adversely affect the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
    11. Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the most recent annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each ERISA Plan, copies of which have been filed with the Internal Revenue Service and furnished to the Banks, is complete and accurate and fairly presents the funding status of such ERISA Plan, and since the date of such Schedule B there has been no material adverse change in such funding status.
    12. The Borrower has not incurred, and does not reasonably expect to incur, any withdrawal liability under ERISA to any Multiemployer Plan.

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE BORROWER

    SECTION 5.01.   Affirmative Covenants.

So long as any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will, unless the Majority Lenders shall otherwise consent in writing:

    1. Keep Books; Corporate Existence; Maintenance of Properties; Compliance with Laws; Insurance; Taxes; Inspection Rights.

    1. keep proper books of record and account, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
    2. except as otherwise permitted by Section 5.02(c), preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence and preserve and keep in full force and effect its licenses, rights and franchises to the extent necessary to carry on its business;
    3. maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, its properties in good repair, working order and condition, and from time to time make or cause to be made all needful and proper repairs, renewals, replacements and improvements, in each case to the extent such properties are not obsolete and not necessary to carry on its business;
    4. comply in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules, regulations and orders, such compliance to include, without limitation, paying before the same become delinquent all taxes, assessments and governmental charges imposed upon it or its property, except to the extent being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, and compliance with ERISA and Environmental Laws;
    5. maintain insurance with responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations or through its own program of self-insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is usually carried by companies engaged in similar businesses and owning similar properties in the same general areas in which it operates and furnish to the Administrative Agent, within a reasonable time after written request therefor, such information as to the insurance carried as any Lender, through the Administrative Agent, may reasonably request;
    6. pay and discharge its obligations and liabilities in the ordinary course of business, except to the extent that such obligations and liabilities are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings; and
    7. from time to time upon reasonable notice, permit or arrange for the Administrative Agent, the Lenders and their respective agents and representatives to inspect the records and books of account of the Borrower and its subsidiaries during regular business hours.
  1. Use of Proceeds. The Borrower may use the proceeds of the Borrowings for only  general corporate purposes including (i) financing, in part, investments by and capital expenditures of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, (ii) subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, repurchases of common stock of the Borrower and/or investments in nonregulated and/or nonutility businesses and (iii) financing working capital requirements of the Borrower and its subsidiaries.
  2. Reporting Requirements. Furnish to the Lenders:

    1. as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower, (A) consolidated balance sheets of the Borrower and its subsidiaries as of the end of such quarter and (B) consolidated statements of income and retained earnings of the Borrower and its subsidiaries for the period commencing at the end of the previous fiscal year and ending with the end of such quarter, each certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied;
    2. as soon as available and in any event within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Borrower, a copy of the annual report for such year for the Borrower and its subsidiaries, containing consolidated financial statements for such year certified without qualification by Deloitte & Touche LLP (or such other nationally recognized public accounting firm as the Administrative Agent may approve), and certified by a duly authorized officer of the Borrower as having been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied;
    3. as soon as available and in any event within 60 days after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year of the Borrower and within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Borrower, a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Borrower, stating that no Prepayment Event or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, or if a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, a statement setting forth details of such Prepayment Event or Event of Default, as the case may be, and the action that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
    4. as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Borrower has knowledge of the occurrence of each Prepayment Event, Event of Default and each event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default, continuing on the date of such statement, a statement of the duly authorized officer of the Borrower setting forth details of such Prepayment Event or Event of Default or event, as the case may be, and the actions that the Borrower has taken and proposes to take with respect thereto;
    5. as soon as possible and in any event within five days after the Borrower receives notice of the commencement of any litigation against, or any arbitration, administrative, governmental or regulatory proceeding involving, the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries, that, if adversely determined, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower, notice of such litigation describing in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances concerning such litigation and the Borrower's or such subsidiary's proposed actions in connection therewith;
    6. promptly after the sending or filing thereof, copies of all reports that the Borrower sends to any of its securities holders, and copies of all reports and registration statements which the Borrower files with the SEC or any national securities exchange pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and of all certificates pursuant to Rule 24 which the Borrower files with the SEC pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, in connection with the proceeding of the SEC in File No. 70-10202 related to the SEC Order or any subsequent proceedings related thereto;
    7. as soon as possible and in any event (A) within 30 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know that any ERISA Termination Event described in clause (i) of the definition of ERISA Termination Event with respect to any ERISA Plan has occurred and (B) within 10 days after the Borrower knows or has reason to know that any other ERISA Termination Event with respect to any ERISA Plan has occurred, a statement of the chief financial officer of the Borrower describing such ERISA Termination Event and the action, if any, that the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto;
    8. promptly and in any event within two Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower from the PBGC, copies of each notice received by the Borrower of the PBGC's intention to terminate any ERISA Plan or to have a trustee appointed to administer any ERISA Plan;
    9. promptly and in any event within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service, copies of each Schedule B (Actuarial Information) to the annual report (Form 5500 Series) with respect to each ERISA Plan;
    10. promptly and in any event within five Business Days after receipt thereof by the Borrower from a Multiemployer Plan sponsor, a copy of each notice received by the Borrower concerning the imposition of withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 4202 of ERISA;
    11. promptly and in any event within five Business Days after Moody's or S&P has changed any Senior Debt Rating of any Significant Subsidiary, notice of such change; and
    12. such other information respecting the condition or operations, financial or otherwise, of the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries as any Lender through the Administrative Agent may from time to time reasonably request.

    (d)    SEC Order. Maintain the SEC Order in full force and effect through its termination date and comply with all terms and conditions thereof until all amounts outstanding under this Agreement shall have been repaid or paid (as the case may be) and the Maturity Date has occurred.

    SECTION 5.02.   Negative Covenants.

So long as any amount payable by the Borrower hereunder shall remain unpaid or any Lender shall have any Commitment hereunder, the Borrower will not, without the written consent of the Majority Lenders:

    1. Liens, Etc. Create or suffer to exist any Lien upon or with respect to any of its properties (including, without limitation, any shares of any class of equity security of any of its Significant Subsidiaries or of Entergy New Orleans), in each case to secure or provide for the payment of Debt, other than: (i) Liens in existence on the date of this Agreement; (ii) Liens for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or levies to the extent not past due, or which are being contested in good faith in appropriate proceedings diligently conducted and for which the Borrower has provided adequate reserves for the payment thereof in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (iii) pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations under worker's compensation laws or similar legislation; (iv) other pledges or deposits in the ordinary course of business (other than for borrowed monies) that, in the aggregate, are not mate rial to the Borrower; (v) purchase money mortgages or other liens or purchase money security interests upon or in any property acquired or held by the Borrower in the ordinary course of business to secure the purchase price of such property or to secure indebtedness incurred solely for the purpose of financing the acquisition of such property; (vi) Liens imposed by law such as materialmen's, mechanics', carriers', workers' and repairmen's Liens and other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet due or currently being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted; (vii) attachment, judgment or other similar Liens arising in connection with court proceedings, provided that such Liens, in the aggregate, shall not exceed $50,000,000 at any one time outstanding, (viii) other Liens not otherwise referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vii) above, provided that such Liens, in the aggregate, shall not exceed $ 100,000,000 at any one time and (ix) Liens created for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing in whole or in part Debt secured by any Lien referred in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) above, provided that the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement and that such extension, renewal or replacement, as the case may be, shall be limited to all or a part of the property or Debt that secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (and any improvements on such property); provided, further, that no Lien permitted under the foregoing clauses (i) through (ix) shall be placed upon any shares of any class of equity security of any Significant Subsidiary or of Entergy New Orleans unless the obligations of the Borrower to the Lenders hereunder are simultaneously and ratably secured by such Lien pursuant to documentation satisfactory to the Lende rs.
    2. Limitation on Debt. Permit the total principal amount of all Debt of the Borrower and its subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis and without duplication of liability therefor, at any time to exceed 65% of Capitalization determined as of the last day of the most recently ended fiscal quarter of the Borrower; provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 5.02(b) "Debt" and "Capitalization" shall not include (i) Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to a subsidiary trust which has issued preferred securities that are included in the calculation of "Capitalization" and (ii) any Debt of any subsidiary of the Borrower that is Non-Recourse Debt.
    3. Mergers, Etc. Merge with or into or consolidate with or into any other Person, except that the Borrower may merge with any other Person, provided that, immediately after giving effect to any such merger, (i) the Borrower is the surviving corporation or (A) the surviving corporation is organized under the laws of one of the states of the United States of America and assumes the Borrower's obligations hereunder in a manner acceptable to the Majority Lenders, and (B) after giving effect to such merger, the senior unsecured long-term debt of such Person shall be at least BBB- and Baa3, (ii) no event shall have occurred and be continuing that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both, and (iii) the Borrower shall not be liable with respect to any Debt or allow its property to be subject to any Lien which would not be permiss ible with respect to it or its property under this Agreement on the date of such transaction.
    4. Disposition of Assets. Cause a Stock Disposition with respect to any Significant Subsidiary, or permit any Significant Subsidiary to cause a Stock Disposition with respect to any other Person, unless (i) the Borrower shall continue to own directly or indirectly all of the Common Equity of each Significant Subsidiary, or (ii) such Stock Disposition is pursuant, required or related to any regulatory authority and/or governing body (pertaining (A) to the organization or formation of a regional transmission organization or (B) to the separation or disaggregation of generation, transmission and/or distribution assets), and within 180 days of such Stock Disposition, the Borrower applies (or causes such Significant Subsidiary to apply) all of the Net Available Cash from such Stock Disposition (1) to prepay, repay, purchase, repurchase, redeem, retire, defease or otherwise acquire for value Debt of the Borrower and/or Debt of one or more Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiaries t hat remain a subsidiary of the Borrower and/or (2) to reinvest in the business of one or more Domestic Regulated Utility Subsidiaries of the Borrower.

ARTICLE VI
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES

    SECTION 6.02.   Events of Default.

Each of the following events shall constitute an "Event of Default" hereunder:

    1. The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of any Advance when the same becomes due and payable, or shall fail to pay interest thereon or any other amount payable under this Agreement within three Business Days after the same becomes due and payable; or
    2. Any representation or warranty made by the Borrower herein or by the Borrower (or any of its officers) in connection with this Agreement shall prove to have been incorrect or misleading in any material respect when made; or
    3. The Borrower shall fail to perform or observe (i) any term, covenant or agreement contained in Section 5.01(b) or 5.02 or (ii) any other term, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or observed if the failure to perform or observe such other term, covenant or agreement shall remain unremedied for 30 days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Borrower by the Administrative Agent or any Lender; or
    4. The Borrower shall fail to pay any principal of or premium or interest on any Debt of the Borrower that is outstanding in a principal amount in excess of $50,000,000 in the aggregate (but excluding Debt hereunder) when the same becomes due and payable (whether by scheduled maturity, required prepayment, acceleration, demand or otherwise), and such failure shall continue after the applicable grace period, if any, specified in the agreement or instrument relating to such Debt; or
    5. The Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans shall generally not pay its debts as such debts become due, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or any proceeding shall be instituted by or against the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans seeking to adjudicate it as bankrupt or insolvent, or seeking liquidation, winding up, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, protection, relief, or composition of it or its debts under any law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors, or seeking the entry of an order for relief or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for it or for any substantial part of its property and, in the case of any such proceeding instituted against it (but not instituted by it), either such proceeding shall remain undismissed or unstayed for a period of 30 days, or any of the actions sought in such proceeding (including, without limitation, the entry of an order for relief against, or the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian or other similar official for, it or for any substantial part of its property) shall occur; or the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans shall take any corporate action to authorize or to consent to any of the actions set forth above in this subsection (e); or
    6. Any judgment or order for the payment of money in excess of $25,000,000 shall be rendered against the Borrower and either (i) enforcement proceedings shall have been commenced by any creditor upon such judgment or order or (ii) there shall be any period of 10 consecutive Business Days during which a stay of enforcement of such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be in effect; or
    7. (i)  An ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower shall fail to maintain the minimum funding standards required by Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any plan year or a waiver of such standard is sought or granted under Section 412(d) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or (ii) an ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower is, shall have been or will be terminated or the subject of termination proceedings under ERISA, or (iii) the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower has incurred or will incur a liability to or on account of an ERISA Plan under Section 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA and there shall result from such event either a liability or a material risk of incurring a liability to the PBGC or an ERISA Plan, or (iv) any ERISA Termination Event with respect to an ERISA Plan of the Borrower or any ERISA Affiliate of the Borrower shall have occurred, and in the case of any event described in clau ses (i) through (iv), (A) such event (if correctable) shall not have been corrected and (B) the then-present value of such ERISA Plan's vested benefits exceeds the then-current value of assets accumulated in such ERISA Plan by more than the amount of $25,000,000 (or in the case of an ERISA Termination Event involving the withdrawal of a "substantial employer" (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA), the withdrawing employer's proportionate share of such excess shall exceed such amount).

    SECTION 6.02.   Remedies.

If any Prepayment Event or Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, then, and in any such event, the Administrative Agent (i) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the obligation of each Lender to make Advances to be terminated, whereupon the same shall forthwith terminate, and (ii) shall at the request, or may with the consent, of the Majority Lenders, by notice to the Borrower, declare the Advances, all interest thereon and all other amounts payable under this Agreement to be forthwith due and payable, whereupon the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall become and be forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or further notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower; provided, however, that in the event of an actual or deemed entry of an order for relief with respect to the Borrower, any Significant Subsidiary or Entergy New Orleans under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, (A) the obligation of each Lender to make Advances shall automatically be terminated and (B) the Advances, all such interest and all such amounts shall automatically become and be due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower.

ARTICLE VII
THE AGENT

    SECTION 7.01.   Authorization and Action.

Each Lender hereby appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement (including, without limitation, enforcement or collection of the Advances), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the instructions of the Majority Lenders, and such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders; provided, however, that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action which exposes the Administrative Agent to personal liability or which is contrary to this Agreement or applicable law. The Administrative Agen t agrees to give to each Lender prompt notice of each notice given to it by the Borrower pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.

    SECTION 7.02.   Administrative Agent's Reliance, Etc.

Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its directors, officers, agents or employees shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under or in connection with this Agreement, except for its or their own gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent: (i) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel for the Borrower), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts; (ii) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations (whether written or oral) made in or in connection with this Agreement; (iii) shall not have any duty to ascertain or to inquire as to the performance or observance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement on the part of the Borrower or to inspect the property (including the books and records) of the Borrower; (iv) shall not be responsible to any Lender for the due execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of, or the perfection or priority of any lien or security interest created or purported to be created under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; and (v) shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which may be by telecopier, telegram, cable or telex) believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent by the proper party or parties.

    SECTION 7.03.   HypoVereinsbank and Affiliates.

With respect to its Commitment and the Advances made by it, HypoVereinsbank shall have the same rights and powers under this Agreement as any other Lender and may exercise the same as though it were not the Administrative Agent; and the term "Lender" or "Lenders" shall, unless otherwise expressly indicated, include HypoVereinsbank in its individual capacity. HypoVereinsbank and its affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, act as trustee under indentures of, and generally engage in any kind of business with, the Borrower, any of its subsidiaries and any Person who may do business with or own securities of the Borrower or any such subsidiary, all as if HypoVereinsbank were not the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

    SECTION 7.04.   Lender Credit Decision.

Each Lender acknowledges that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement.

    SECTION 7.05.   Indemnification.

The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent (to the extent not reimbursed by the Borrower), ratably according to the respective principal amounts of the Advances then outstanding to each of them (or if no Advances are at the time outstanding, ratably according to the respective amounts of their Commitments), from and against any and all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Administrative Agent in any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement or any action taken or omitted by the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, provided that no Lender shall be liable for any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements resulting from the Administrative Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. Without li mitation of the foregoing, each Lender agrees to reimburse the Administrative Agent promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable counsel fees) incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement, to the extent that such expenses are reimbursable by the Borrower but for which the Administrative Agent is not reimbursed by the Borrower.

    SECTION 7.06.   Successor Administrative Agent.

The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrower and may be removed at any time with or without cause by the Majority Lenders. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Majority Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which, for so long as no Prepayment Event or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, shall be a Lender and shall be approved by the Borrower (with such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed). If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Majority Lenders and approved by the Borrower, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent's giving of notice of resignation or the Majority Lenders' removal of the retiring Administrative Agent, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a commercial b ank organized under the laws of the United States or of any other country that is a member of the OECD having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent hereunder by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent, and the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement. After any retiring Administrative Agent's resignation or removal hereunder as Administrative Agent, the provisions of this Article VII shall inure to its benefit as to any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was Administrative Agent under this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if no Prepayment Event or Event of Default, and no event that with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, then no successor Administrative Agent shall be appointed under this Section 7.06 without the prior written consent of the Borrower, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

    SECTION 8.01.   Amendments, Etc.

No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Majority Lenders, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Lenders (other than any Lender that is the Borrower or an Affiliate of the Borrower), do any of the following: (a) waive any of the conditions specified in Section 3.01 or 3.02, (b) increase the Commitments of the Lenders or subject the Lenders to any additional obligations, (c) reduce the principal of, or interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of or interest on, the Advances or any fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (e) change the percentage of the Commitments or of the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Advances, or the number of Lenders that shall be required for the Lenders or any of them to take any action hereunder or (f) amend this Section 8.01; and provided further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by the Administrative Agent in addition to the Lenders required above to take such action, affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent under this Agreement, and provided further, that this Agreement may be amended and restated without the consent of any Lender or the Administrative Agent if, upon giving effect to such amendment and restatement, such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be, shall no longer be a party to this Agreement (as so amended and restated) or have any Commitment or other obligation hereunder and shall have been paid in full all amounts payable hereunder to such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as the case may be.

    SECTION 8.02.   Notices, Etc.

All notices and other communications provided for hereunder shall be in writing (including telecopier, telegraphic, telex or cable communication) and mailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed, cabled or delivered, if to the Borrower, at its address at 639 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70113, Attention: Treasurer; if to any Bank, at its Domestic Lending Office specified opposite its name on Schedule I hereto; if to any other Lender, at its Domestic Lending Office specified in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which it became a Lender; and if to the Administrative Agent, at its address at 150 E. 42 Street, New York, NY 10017, Attention: Loan Operations, Tina Chung/Mariana Mucenica (Telephone: (212) 672-5688/5811, Facsimile: (212) 672-5691) or, as to each party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a written notice to the other parties. All such notices and communications shall, when mailed, telecopied, telegraphed, telexed or cabled, be effective whe n deposited in the mails, telecopied, delivered to the telegraph company, confirmed by telex answerback or delivered to the cable company, respectively, except that notices and communications to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Article II or VII shall not be effective until received by the Administrative Agent. Except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(c), notices and other communications given by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent shall be deemed given to the Lenders.

    SECTION 8.03.   No Waiver; Remedies.

No failure on the part of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

    SECTION 8.04.   Costs and Expenses; Indemnification.

    1. The Borrower agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery, syndication administration, modification and amendment of this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and out-of-pocket expenses of counsel for the Administrative Agent with respect thereto and with respect to advising the Administrative Agent as to its rights and responsibilities under this Agreement. Any invoices to the Borrower with respect to the aforementioned expenses shall describe such costs and expenses in reasonable detail. The Borrower further agrees to pay on demand all costs and expenses, if any (including, without limitation, counsel fees and expenses of outside counsel and of internal counsel), incurred by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders in connection with the enforcement (whether through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherw ise) of, and the protection of the rights of the Lenders under, this Agreement and the other documents to be delivered hereunder, including, without limitation, reasonable counsel fees and expenses in connection with the enforcement of rights under this Section 8.04(a).
    2. If any payment of principal of, or Conversion of, any Eurodollar Rate Advance is made other than on the last day of the Interest Period for such Advance, as a result of a payment or Conversion pursuant to Section 2.07(c), 2.08, 2.09 or 2.11, acceleration of the maturity of the Advances pursuant to Section 6.02, assignment to another Lender upon demand of the Borrower pursuant to Section 8.07(g) or (h) or for any other reason, the Borrower shall, upon demand by any Lender (with a copy of such demand to the Administrative Agent), pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender any amounts required to compensate such Lender for any additional losses, costs or expenses which it may reasonably incur as a result of such payment or Conversion, including, without limitation, any loss (including loss of anticipated profits upon such Lender's representation to the Borrower that it has made reasonable efforts to mitigate such loss), cost or expense incurred by reason of the li quidation or reemployment of deposits or other funds acquired by any Lender to fund or maintain such Advance. Any Lender making a demand pursuant to this Section 8.04(b) shall provide the Borrower with a written certification of the amounts required to be paid to such Lender, showing in reasonable detail the basis for the Lender's determination of such amounts; provided, however, that no Lender shall be required to disclose any confidential or proprietary information in any certification provided pursuant hereto, and the failure of any Lender to provide such certification shall not affect the obligations of the Borrower hereunder.
    3. The Borrower hereby agrees to indemnify and hold each Lender, the Administrative Agent and their respective Affiliates and their respective officers, directors, employees and professional advisors (each, an "Indemnified Person") harmless from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses (including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses, whether or not such Indemnified Person is named as a party to any proceeding or is otherwise subjected to judicial or legal process arising from any such proceeding) that any of them may incur or which may be claimed against any of them by any Person or entity by reason of or in connection with the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby, or the use by the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries of the proceeds of any Advance, except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to any indemnification hereunder to the extent that such claims, damag es, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses are finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Person. The Borrower's obligations under this Section 8.04(c) shall survive the repayment of all amounts owing to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent under this Agreement and the termination of the Commitments. If and to the extent that the obligations of the Borrower under this Section 8.04(c) are unenforceable for any reason, the Borrower agrees to make the maximum contribution to the payment and satisfaction thereof which is permissible under applicable law. The Borrower also agrees not to assert any claim against any Lender, any of such Lender's affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages arising out of or otherwise relating to this Agreement, any of the transactions contemplated herein or the actual or proposed use of the proceeds of the Advances.

    SECTION 8.05.   Right of Set-off.

Upon (i) the occurrence and during the continuance of any Prepayment Event or Event of Default and (ii) the making of the request or the granting of the consent specified by Section 6.02 to authorize the Administrative Agent to declare the Advances due and payable pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.02, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of the Borrower against any and all of the obligations of the Borrower now or hereafter existing under this Agreement, whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement and although such obligations may be unmatured. Each Lender agrees promptly to notify the Borrower after any such set-off and application made by such Lender, provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect the validity of such set-off and application. The rights of each Lender under this Section 8.05 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including, without limitation, other rights of set-off) which such Lender may have.

    SECTION 8.06.   Binding Effect.

This Agreement shall become effective when it shall have been executed by the Borrower, the Lenders and the Administrative Agent and thereafter shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender and their respective successors and assigns, except that the Borrower shall not have the right to assign its rights hereunder or any interest herein without the prior written consent of the Lenders.

    SECTION 8.07.   Assignments and Participations.

    1. Each Lender may assign to one or more banks or other entities all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it); provided, however, that (i) the Borrower (unless a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing) and the Administrative Agent shall have consented to such assignment (with each such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) by signing the Assignment and Acceptance referred to in clause (iv) below; (ii) each such assignment shall be of a constant, and not a varying, percentage of all rights and obligations under this Agreement; (iii) the amount of the Commitment of the assigning Lender being assigned pursuant to each such assignment (determined as of the date of the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment) shall in no event be less than $10,000,000 and shall be an integral mul tiple of $1,000,000 (or shall be the total amount of the assigning Lender's Commitment); and (iv) the parties to each such assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent, for its acceptance and recording in the Register, an Assignment and Acceptance, together with any promissory notes held by the assigning Lender and a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (plus an amount equal to out-of-pocket legal expenses of the Administrative Agent, estimated by the Administrative Agent and advised to such parties). Upon such execution, delivery, acceptance and recording, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, (x) the assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assigned to it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender hereunder and (y) the Lender assignor thereunder shall, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder have been assig ned by it pursuant to such Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all or the remaining portion of an assigning Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender at any time may assign all or any portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any Affiliate or Approved Fund of such Lender.
    2. By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the Lender assignor thereunder and the assignee thereunder confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) other than as provided in such Assignment and Acceptance, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (ii) such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under this Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (iii) such assignee confirms that it has received a cop y of this Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(e) and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (iv) such assignee will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (v) such assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms hereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (vi) such assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement a re required to be performed by it as a Lender.
    3. The Administrative Agent shall maintain at its address referred to in Section 8.02 a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to and accepted by it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders and the Commitment of, and principal amount of the Advances owing to, each Lender from time to time (the "Register"). The entries in the Register shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error, and the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement. The Register shall be available for inspection by the Borrower or any Lender at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.
    4. Upon its receipt of an Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an assignee, together with any promissory notes held by the assigning Lender, the Administrative Agent shall, if such Assignment and Acceptance has been completed and is in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto, (i) accept such Assignment and Acceptance, (ii) record the information contained therein in the Register and (iii) give prompt notice thereof to the Borrower.
    5. Each Lender may sell participations to one or more banks, financial institutions or other entities in or to all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, all or a portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it); provided, however, that (i) such Lender's obligations under this Agreement (including, without limitation, its Commitment to the Borrower hereunder) shall remain unchanged, (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations, (iii) such Lender shall remain the maker of any such Advance for all purposes of this Agreement and (iv) the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender's rights and obligations under this Agreement.
    6. Any Lender may, in connection with any assignment or participation or proposed assignment or participation pursuant to this Section 8.07, disclose to the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant, any information relating to the Borrower furnished to such Lender by or on behalf of the Borrower; provided that, prior to any such disclosure, the assignee or participant or proposed assignee or participant shall agree to preserve the confidentiality of any confidential information relating to the Borrower received by it from such Lender.
    7. If any Lender shall make any demand for payment under Section 2.10 or 2.13, or if any Lender shall be the subject of any notification or assertion of illegality under Section 2.11, then within 30 days after any such demand (if, but only if, such demanded payment has been made by the Borrower) or notification or assertion, the Borrower may, with the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and provided that no Prepayment Event, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall then have occurred and be continuing, demand that such Lender assign in accordance with this Section 8.07 to one or more assignees designated by the Borrower and acceptable to the Administrative Agent all (but not less than all) of such Lender's Commitment and the Advances owing to it within the period ending on the later to occur of such 30th day and the last day of the longest of the then current Interest Periods for such Advances; provided, however, that the Borrower shall pay to the Administrative Agent the $3,500 administrative fee payable pursuant to clause (iv) of subsection (a) above if such assignee is not a Lender immediately prior to such assignment. If any such assignee designated by the Borrower and approved by the Administrative Agent shall fail to consummate such assignment on terms acceptable to such Lender, or if the Borrower shall fail to designate any such assignees acceptable to the Administrative Agent for all or part of such Lender's Commitment or Advances, then such demand by the Borrower shall become ineffective; it being understood for purposes of this subsection (h) that such assignment shall be conclusively deemed to be on terms acceptable to such Lender, and such Lender shall be compelled to consummate such assignment to an Eligible Assignee designated by the Borrower, if such Eligible Assignee (A) shall agree to such assignment by entering into an Assignment and Acceptance with such Lender and (B) shall offer compensation to such Lender in an amount equal to all amounts then owing by the Borrower to such Lender hereunder, whether for principal, interest, fees, costs or expenses (other than the demanded payment referred to above and payable by the Borrower as a condition to the Borrower's right to demand such assignment), or otherwise. In addition, in the event that the Borrower shall be entitled to demand the replacement of any Lender pursuant to this subsection (h), the Borrower may, in the case of any such Lender, with the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld) and provided that no Prepayment Event, Event of Default or event that, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, shall then have occurred and be continuing, terminate all (but not less than all) such Lender's Commitment and prepay all (but not less than all) such Lender's Advances not so assign ed, together with all interest accrued thereon to the date of such prepayment and all fees, costs and expenses and other amounts then owing by the Borrower to such Lender hereunder, at any time from and after such later occurring day in accordance with Section 2.09 hereof (but without the requirement stated therein for ratable treatment of the other Lenders), if and only if, after giving effect to such termination and prepayment, the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the Advances of all Lenders then outstanding does not exceed the then remaining Commitments of the Lenders. Notwithstanding anything set forth above in this subsection (h) to the contrary, the Borrower shall not be entitled to compel the assignment by any Lender demanding payment under Section 2.10(a) of its Commitment and Advances or terminate and prepay the Commitment and Advances of such Lender if, prior to or promptly following any such demand by the Borrower, such Lender shall have changed or shall change, as the case may be, its Ap plicable Lending Office for its Eurodollar Rate Advances so as to eliminate the further incurrence of such increased cost. In furtherance of the foregoing, any such Lender demanding payment or giving notice as provided above agrees to use reasonable efforts to so change its Applicable Lending Office if, to do so, would not result in the incurrence by such Lender of additional costs or expenses which it deems material or, in the sole judgment of such Lender, be inadvisable for regulatory, competitive or internal management reasons.
    8. Anything in this Section 8.07 to the contrary notwithstanding, any Lender may assign and pledge all or any portion of its Commitment and the Advances owing to it to any Federal Reserve Bank (and its transferees) as collateral security pursuant to Regulation A of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and any Operating Circular issued by such Federal Reserve Bank. No such assignment shall release the assigning Lender from its obligations hereunder.
    9. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender (a "Granting Lender") may grant to a special purpose funding vehicle (an "SPC") of such Granting Lender identified as such in writing from time to time by the Granting Lender to the Administrative Agent and the Borrower, the option to provide to the Borrower all or any part of any Advance that such Granting Lender would otherwise be obligated to make to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement; provided that (i) nothing herein shall constitute a commitment by any such SPC to make any Advance, (ii) if such SPC elects not to exercise such option or otherwise fails to provide all or any part of such Advance, the Granting Lender shall be obligated to make such Advance pursuant to the terms hereof and (iii) no SPC or Granting Lender shall be entitled to receive any greater amount pursuant to Section 2.10 or 8.04(b) than the Granting Lender would have been entitled to receive had the Granting Lender not otherwise granted such SPC the option to provide any Advance to the Borrower. The making of an Advance by an SPC hereunder shall utilize the Commitment of the Granting Lender to the same extent, and as if, such Advance were made by such Granting Lender. Each party hereto hereby agrees that no SPC shall be liable for any indemnity or similar payment obligation under this Agreement for which a Lender would otherwise be liable so long as, and to the extent that, the related Granting Lender provides such indemnity or makes such payment. In furtherance of the foregoing, each party hereto hereby agrees (which agreement shall survive the termination of this Agreement) that, prior to the date that is one year and one day after the payment in full of all outstanding commercial paper or other senior indebtedness of any SPC, it will not institute against or join any other person in instituting against such SPC any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency or liquidat ion proceedings under the laws of the United States or any State thereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Granting Lender unconditionally agrees to indemnify the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and each Lender against all liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements of any kind or nature whatsoever which may be incurred by or asserted against the Borrower, the Administrative Agent or such Lender, as the case may be, in any way relating to or arising as a consequence of any such forbearance or delay in the initiation of any such proceeding against its SPC. Each party hereto hereby acknowledges and agrees that no SPC shall have the rights of a Lender hereunder, such rights being retained by the applicable Granting Lender. Accordingly, and without limiting the foregoing, each party hereby further acknowledges and agrees that no SPC shall have any voting rights hereunder and that the voting rights attributable to any Advance made by an SPC shall be exercised only by the relevant Granting Lender and that each Granting Lender shall serve as the administrative agent and attorney-in-fact for its SPC and shall on behalf of its SPC receive any and all payments made for the benefit of such SPC and take all actions hereunder to the extent, if any, such SPC shall have any rights hereunder. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement any SPC may (i) with notice to, but without the prior written consent of any other party hereto, assign all or a portion of its interest in any Advances to the Granting Lender and (ii) disclose on a confidential basis any information relating to its Advances to any rating agency, commercial paper dealer or provider of any surety, guarantee or credit or liquidity enhancement to such SPC. This Section 8.07(i) may not be amended without the prior written consent of each Granting Lender, all or any part of whose Advance is being funded by an SPC at the time of such amendment.

    SECTION 8.08.   Governing Law.

THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY NOTE ISSUED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.15 SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

    SECTION 8.09.   Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial.

    1. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Borrower hereby irrevocably (i) submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or Federal court sitting in New York City and any appellate court from any thereof in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in such New York State court or in such Federal court. The Borrower hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding. The Borrower also irrevocably consents, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding by the mailing by certified mail of copies of such process to the Borrower at its address specified in Section 8.02. The Borrower agrees, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law.
    2. THE BORROWER, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND THE LENDERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER.

    SECTION 8.10.   Execution in Counterparts.

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

[The remainder of this page intentionally left blank.]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

ENTERGY CORPORATION

 

By                                           
Steven C. McNeal
Vice President and Treasurer

 

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG,
NEW YORK BRANCH
  as Administrative Agent

By                                               
Name: William W. Hunter
Title: Director

 

By                                                
Name:
Title:

 

BANKS

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG,
NEW YORK BRANCH

 

By                                                    
Name: William W. Hunter
Title: Director

 

By                                                   
Name:
Title:

 

SCHEDULE I

ENTERGY CORPORATION

U.S. $60,000,000 Credit Agreement

 

Name of Bank

Payment
Instructions

Domestic
Lending Office

Eurodollar
Lending Office

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as
Administrative Agent
and Lender

Fedwire: #9; Federal Reserve Bank of New York
Favor: Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch

ABA No.: 026 008 808
A/C#: 594 012 033 405 501
Account Name: Loan Servicing
Reference: Entergy Term Loan
Attention: Tina Chung

Swift: HYVEUS 33

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG,
New York Branch
150 E. 42 Street
New York, NY 10017

Bayerische Hypo- und
Vereinsbank AG, Grand Cayman Branch
c/o Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG
150 E. 42 Street
New York, NY 10017

 

SCHEDULE II

COMMITMENT SCHEDULE

 

Name of Lender

Commitment Amount

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch

$60,000,000

   

Total Commitment:

$60,000,000

 

EXHIBIT A-1

FORM OF NOTICE OF BORROWING

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
150 East 42 Street
New York, New York  10017

 

[Date]

 

Attention:     Bank Loan Syndications

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Entergy Corporation, refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders parties thereto and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Credit Agreement that the undersigned hereby requests a Borrowing under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Borrowing (the "Proposed Borrowing") as required by Section 2.02(a) of the Credit Agreement:

    1. The Business Day of the Proposed Borrowing is ,                 , 20   .
    2. The Type of Advances to be made in connection with the Proposed Borrowing is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances].
    3. The aggregate amount of the Proposed Borrowing is $             .
    4. The Interest Period for each Eurodollar Rate Advance made as part of the Proposed Borrowing is ___ month[s].
    5. [ENTERGY WIRE INSTRUCTIONS].

The undersigned hereby certifies that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Borrowing:

    1. the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement are correct, before and after giving effect to the Proposed Borrowing and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, as though made on and as of such date; and
    2. no event has occurred and is continuing, or would result from such Proposed Borrowing or from the application of the proceeds therefrom, that constitutes a Prepayment Event or an Event of Default or would constitute an Event of Default but for the requirement that notice be given or time elapse or both.

Very truly yours,

ENTERGY CORPORATION

 

By                                           
Name:
Title:

______________________
1  Delete for Base Rate Advances.

 

EXHIBIT A-2

FORM OF NOTICE OF CONVERSION

 

Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent
for the Lenders parties
to the Credit Agreement
referred to below
150 East 42 Street
New York, New York  10017

 

[Date]

 

Attention:     Bank Loan Syndications

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The undersigned, Entergy Corporation, refers to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement", the terms defined therein being used herein as therein defined), among the undersigned, certain Lenders party thereto and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for said Lenders, and hereby gives you notice, irrevocably, pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement, that the undersigned hereby requests a Conversion under the Credit Agreement, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Conversion (the "Proposed Conversion") as required by Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement:

    1. The Business Day of the Proposed Conversion is __________, _____.
    2. The Type of Advances comprising the Proposed Conversion is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances].
    3. The aggregate amount of the Proposed Conversion is $__________.
    4. The Type of Advances to which such Advances are proposed to be Converted is [Base Rate Advances] [Eurodollar Rate Advances].
    5. The Interest Period for each Advance made as part of the Proposed Conversion is ___ month(s).

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the following statements are true on the date hereof, and will be true on the date of the Proposed Conversion:

    1. The Borrower's request for the Proposed Conversion is made in compliance with Section 2.08 of the Credit Agreement; and
    2. The statements contained in Section 3.02 of the Credit Agreement are true.

Very truly yours,

ENTERGY CORPORATION

 

By                                            
Name:
Title:


 

________________________
2  Delete for Base Rate Advances

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

Dated ___________, 20__

 

 

Reference is made to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005 (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), the Lenders (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders (the "Administrative Agent"). Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meaning.

____________ (the "Assignor") and ___________ (the "Assignee") agree as follows:

    1. The Assignor hereby sells and assigns to the Assignee without recourse, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from the Assignor, that interest in and to all of the Assignor's rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement as of the date hereof which represents the percentage interest specified on Schedule 1 of all outstanding rights and obligations under the Credit Agreement, including, without limitation, such interest in the Assignor's Commitment and the Advances owing to the Assignor. After giving effect to such sale and assignment, the Assignee's Commitment and the amount of the Advances owing to the Assignee will be as set forth in Section (b) of Schedule 1.
    2. The Assignor (A) represents and warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned by it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any adverse claim; (B) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Credit Agreement or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; and (C) makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to the financial condition of the Borrower or the performance or observance by the Borrower of any of its obligations under the Credit Agreement or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto. Except as specified in this Section (b), the assignment hereunder shall be without recourse to the Assignor.
    3. The Assignee (A) confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit Agreement, together with copies of the financial statements referred to in Section 4.01 thereof and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance; (B) agrees that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Credit Agreement; (C) appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Credit Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms thereof, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; (D) agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Credit Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender; [and] (E) specifies as its Domestic Lending Office (and address for notices) and Eurodollar Lending Office the offices set forth beneath its name on the signature pages hereof [and (F) attaches the forms prescribed by the Internal Revenue Service of the United States certifying that it is exempt from United States withholding taxes with respect to all payments to be made to the Assignee under the Credit Agreement].1
    4. Following the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance by the Assignor and the Assignee, it will be delivered to the Administrative Agent for acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent. The effective date of this Assignment and Acceptance shall be the date of acceptance thereof by the Administrative Agent, unless otherwise specified on Schedule 1 hereto (the "Effective Date"); provided, however, that in no event shall this Assignment and Acceptance become effective prior to the payment for the processing and recordation fee to the Administrative Agent as provided in Section 8.07(a) of the Credit Agreement.
    5. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent, as of the Effective Date, (A) the Assignee shall be a party to the Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and (B) the Assignor shall, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Credit Agreement.
    6. Upon such acceptance and recording by the Administrative Agent, from and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments under the Credit Agreement in respect of the interest assigned hereby (including, without limitation, all payments of principal and interest with respect thereto) to the Assignee. The Assignor and Assignee shall make all appropriate adjustments in payments under the Credit Agreement for periods prior to the Effective Date directly between themselves.
    7. THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
    8. This Assignment and Acceptance may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were up on the same instrument.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Assignment and Acceptance to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written, such execution being made on Schedule 1 hereto.

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 

By                                            
Name:
Title:

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

 

By                                            
Name:
Title:

 

Domestic Lending Office (and
address for notices):
[Address]

 

_______________________
1  If the Assignee is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States.

 

Eurodollar Lending Office:
[Address]

 

Accepted this ___ day
of ___________, 20__

 

BAYERISCHE HYPO- UND VEREINSBANK AG, NEW YORK BRANCH
  as Administrative Agent

 

By                                        
Name:
Title:

 

By                                        
Name:
Title:

Schedule 1
to
Assignment and Acceptance

Dated __________, 20__

 

Section (a)

 
   

Percentage Interest:

            %

   

Section (b)

 
   

Assignee's Commitment:

$      

   

Aggregate Outstanding Principal

 

Amount of Advances owing
to the Assignee:

$      

   

Section (c)

 
   

Effective Date1:

_________, 20__

 

__________________
1   This date should be no earlier than the date of acceptance by the Administrative Agent.

 


EXHIBIT C

FORM OF OPINION OF
COUNSEL FOR THE BORROWER

 

[Date]

 

To each of the Lenders parties to the
Credit Agreement referred to below,
and to Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent

 

Entergy Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I have acted as counsel to Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005, by and among the Borrower, the Banks parties thereto and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders thereunder. This opinion is furnished to you at the request of the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(v) of the Credit Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein or unless the context otherwise requires, terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein as therein defined.

In such capacity, I have examined:

    1. Counterparts of the Credit Agreement, executed by the Borrower;
    2. The Certificate of Incorporation of the Borrower (the "Charter");
    3. The Bylaws of the Borrower (the "Bylaws");
    4. A certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated June 23, 2005, attesting to the continued corporate existence and good standing of the Borrower in that State;
    5. A Certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana, dated June 23, 2005, attesting that the Borrower is a foreign corporation duly qualified to conduct business in that State;
    6. A copy of the Order dated June 30, 2004 of the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 70-10202) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended (the "SEC Order"); and
    7. The other documents furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.01(a) of the Credit Agreement.

I have also examined such other corporate records of the Borrower, certificates of public officials and of officers of the Borrower, and agreements, instruments and other documents, as I have deemed necessary as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

In my examination, I have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to me as originals, and the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to me as copies. In making my examination of documents and instruments executed or to be executed by persons other than the Borrower, I have assumed that each such other person had the requisite power and authority to enter into and perform fully its obligations thereunder, the due authorization by each such other person for the execution, delivery and performance thereof and the due execution and delivery thereof by or on behalf of such person of each such document and instrument. In the case of any such person that is not a natural person, I have also assumed, insofar as it is relevant to the opinions set forth below, that each such other person is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was c reated, and is duly qualified and in good standing in each other jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified could reasonably be expected to have a material effect upon its ability to execute, deliver and/or perform its obligations under any such document or instrument. I have further assumed that each document, instrument, agreement, record and certificate reviewed by me for purposes of rendering the opinions expressed below has not been amended by any oral agreement, conduct or course of dealing between the parties thereto.

As to questions of fact material to the opinions expressed herein, I have relied upon certificates and representations of officers of the Borrower (including but not limited to those contained in the Credit Agreement and certificates delivered upon the execution and delivery of the Credit Agreement) and of appropriate public officials, without independent verification of such matters except as otherwise described herein.

Whenever my opinions herein with respect to the existence or absence of facts are stated to be to my knowledge or awareness, it is intended to signify that no information has come to my attention or the attention of other counsel working under my direction in connection with the preparation of this opinion letter that would give me or them actual knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts. However, except to the extent expressly set forth herein, neither I nor they have undertaken any independent investigation to determine the existence or absence of such facts, and no inference as to my or their knowledge of the existence or absence of such facts should be assumed.

On the basis of the foregoing, having regard for such legal consideration as I deem relevant, and subject to the other limitations and qualifications contained in this letter, I am of the opinion that:

    1. The Borrower is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or the property owned, operated or leased by it requires such qualification.
    2. The execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement are within the Borrower's corporate powers, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not contravene (i) the Charter or the Bylaws or (ii) law, or (iii) any contractual or legal restriction binding on or affecting the Borrower. The Credit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Borrower.
    3. No authorization, approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any governmental authority or regulatory body, is required for the due execution, delivery and performance by the Borrower of the Credit Agreement, including obtaining any Borrowings under the Credit Agreement, except for filing of the Declaration on Form U-1 and amendments and exhibits thereto in File No. 70-10202 and the SEC Order, which has been obtained, is final and in full force and effect, and is not the subject of any appeal.
    4. Except as disclosed in the Borrower's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, and in the Borrower's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2005, and the Borrower's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated May 18, 2005 (filed May 19, 2005), dated May 13, 2005 (filed May 19, 2005), dated May 25, 2005 (filed June 1, 2005), and dated June 1, 2005 (filed June 14, 2005), there is no pending or, to the best of my knowledge, threatened action or proceeding affecting the Borrower or any of its subsidiaries before any court, governmental agency or arbitrator that reasonably could be expected to affect materially and adversely the condition (financial or otherwise), operations, business, properties or prospects of the Borrower or its ability to perform its obligations under the Credit Agreement, or that purports to affect the legality, validity, binding effect or enforceability of the Credit Agreement. To the best of my knowledge, after inquiry , there has been no change in any matter disclosed in such filings that reasonably could be expected to result in such a material adverse effect.
    5. The Borrower is not an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company", within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, or an "investment adviser" within the meaning of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended.
    6. The Credit Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

My opinions above are subject to the following qualifications:

    1. My opinions are subject, as to enforceability, to (A) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally and (B) the application of general principles of equity, including but not limited to the right to have specific performance of contract obligations, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.
    2. My opinion in paragraph (a) above, insofar as it relates to the due incorporation, valid existence and good standing of the Borrower under Delaware law, is given exclusively in reliance upon a certification of the Secretary of State of Delaware, upon which I believe I am justified in relying. A copy of such certification has been provided to you.
    3. My opinion set forth in paragraph (c) above as to the obtaining of necessary governmental and regulatory approvals is based solely upon a review of those laws that, in my experience, are normally applicable to the Borrower in connection with transactions of the type contemplated by the Credit Agreement.
    4. My opinion in paragraph (f) above as to the legality, validity, binding nature and enforceability of the Credit Agreement is given in reliance upon a legal opinion of even date herewith of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, New York counsel to the Borrower, and is subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications contained therein. A copy of the legal opinion of Thelen Reid & Priest LLP, is being provided to you contemporaneously herewith.

Notwithstanding the qualifications set forth above, I have no actual knowledge of any matter within the scope of said qualifications that would cause me to change the opinions set forth in this letter.

I am licensed to practice law only in the State of Louisiana and, except as otherwise provided herein, my role as counsel to the Borrower is limited to matters involving the laws of the State of Louisiana and the federal laws of the United States of America. Except to the extent otherwise expressly set forth herein, and except with respect to matters governed by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, I render no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction or any subdivision thereof, and have made no independent investigation into any such laws except as specifically provided herein.

My opinions are expressed as of the date hereof, and I do not assume any obligation to update or supplement my opinions to reflect any fact or circumstance that hereafter comes to my attention, or any change in law that hereafter occurs.

This opinion letter is being provided exclusively to and for the benefit of the addressees hereof. It is not to be furnished to or relied upon by any other party for any other purpose, without prior express written authorization from me, except that (A) Thelen Reid & Priest LLP may rely hereon in connection with their opinion to you of even date herewith on behalf of the Borrower as to matters of New York law; and (B) any addressee of this letter may deliver a copy hereof to any person that becomes a Lender under the Credit Agreement after the date hereof, and such person may rely on this opinion as if it had been addressed and delivered to it on the date hereof as an original Bank that was a party to the Credit Agreement.

Very truly yours,

 

Denise C. Redmann
Assistant General Counsel

 

 

EXHIBIT D

OPINION OF SPECIAL NEW YORK
COUNSEL TO THE BORROWER

 

[DATE]

 

To each of the Lenders parties to the
Credit Agreement referred to below,
and to Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch
as Administrative Agent

 

Denise C. Redmann, Esq.
Entergy Services, Inc.
639 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, Louisiana 70113

 

Entergy Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special New York counsel to Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 30, 2005 (the "Credit Agreement"), among the Borrower, the Banks parties thereto and Bayerische Hypo- und Vereinsbank AG, New York Branch, as Administrative Agent for the Lenders thereunder. This opinion is being furnished to you at the request of the Borrower pursuant to Section 3.01(a)(v) of the Credit Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings ascribed to them in the Credit Agreement.

In this connection, we have examined and are familiar with originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) counterparts of the Credit Agreement executed by the Borrower; (ii) the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and the By-Laws of the Borrower; (iii) a certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, dated June [ ], 2005, attesting to the continued corporate existence and good standing of the Borrower in that state; (iv) a certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Louisiana, dated June [ ], 2005, attesting that the Borrower is a foreign corporation duly qualified to conduct business in that state; (v) a copy of the Order, dated June 30, 2004, of the Securities and Exchange Commission (File No. 70-10202) under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended; (vi) the other documents furnished by the Borrower to the Administrative Agent pursuant to Section 3.01(a) of the Credit Agreement; and (vii) such other documents and corporate records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the opinions expressed herein.

In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity with original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies. With respect to the Borrower and each of the other parties to the Credit Agreement, we have assumed (i) that those parties are duly organized and have the power and capacity to execute, deliver and perform all obligations under such documents, and (ii) the due authorization, execution and delivery of such documents by those parties. Regarding documents executed by parties other than the Borrower, we have assumed the validity and binding effect of such documents upon those parties.

We have also assumed that all required regulatory approvals have been obtained and compliance with said approvals.

As to any facts that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied without independent investigation upon statements, representations and certificates of officers of the Borrower, and, as to the matters addressed therein, upon certificates or communications from public officials.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications hereinafter expressed, it is our opinion that the Credit Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Borrower, enforceable against the Borrower in accordance with its terms.

Our opinion is subject to the following qualifications:

(a) The enforceability of the Borrower's obligations under the Credit Agreement is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar law affecting creditors' rights generally.

(b) The enforceability of the Borrower's obligations under the Credit Agreement is subject to the effect of general principles of equity, including (without limitation) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law). Such principles of equity are of general application, and, in applying such principles, a court, among other things, might not allow a contracting party to exercise remedies in respect of a default deemed immaterial, or might decline to order an obligor to perform covenants.

(c) We note further that, in addition to the application of equitable principles described above, courts have imposed an obligation on contracting parties to act reasonably and in good faith in the exercise of their contractual rights and remedies, and may also apply public policy considerations in limiting the right of parties seeking to obtain indemnification under circumstances where the conduct of such parties is determined to have constituted negligence.

(d) We express no opinion herein as to (i) Section 8.05 of the Credit Agreement, (ii) the enforceability of provisions purporting to grant to a party conclusive rights of determination, (iii) the availability of specific performance or other equitable remedies, (iv) the enforceability of rights to indemnity under federal or state securities laws, or (v) the enforceability of waivers by parties of their respective rights and remedies under law.

This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we express no opinion as to the effect of the law of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York wherein any Lender may be located or wherein enforcement of the Credit Agreement may be sought that limits the rate of interest legally chargeable or collectible.

This opinion is rendered solely for your benefit and, except as stated in the following sentences of this paragraph, may not be relied upon by any other party, nor may copies be delivered to any other Person, without our prior written consent. We are aware that Denise C. Redmann, Esq. will rely upon this opinion in rendering her opinion, dated as of the date hereof, to the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, and we hereby authorize such reliance. The Lenders and the Administrative Agent are hereby authorized to deliver a copy of this opinion to any Person that becomes a Lender under the Credit Agreement after the date hereof, and any such Person may rely upon this opinion as if it had been addressed and delivered to it on the date hereof as an original Bank that was a party to the Credit Agreement.

This opinion is limited to laws currently in effect on the date hereof and to the facts as they currently exist. We assume no obligation to revise, supplement or otherwise update this opinion.

Very truly yours,

THELEN REID & PRIEST LLP

 

 

 

 

 

EX-31 7 a31a.htm

Exhibit 31(a)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, J. Wayne Leonard, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Corporation;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

   

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

/s/ J. Wayne Leonard
J. Wayne Leonard
Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 8 a31b.htm

Exhibit 31(b)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Leo P. Denault, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Corporation;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

   

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Leo P. Denault
Leo P. Denault
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Corporation

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 9 a31c.htm

Exhibit 31(c)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Hugh T. McDonald, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Arkansas, Inc.;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

   

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Hugh T. McDonald
Hugh T. McDonald
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 10 a31d.htm

Exhibit 31(d)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Joseph F. Domino, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

   

4.

The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Joseph F. Domino
Joseph F. Domino
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer-Texas
of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 11 a31e.htm

Exhibit 31(e)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, E. Renae Conley, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed these quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and Entergy Louisiana, Inc.;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, these reports do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by these reports;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in these reports, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrants as of, and for, the periods presented in these reports;

   

4.

The registrants' other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrants and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrants, including their consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which these reports are being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants' disclosure controls and procedures and presented in these reports our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by these reports based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in these reports any change in the registrants' internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants' most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants' internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrants' other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants' auditors and the audit committee of the registrants' board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants' ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants' internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ E. Renae Conley
E. Renae Conley
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.; President and Chief Executive
Officer-Louisiana of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 12 a31f.htm

Exhibit 31(f)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Carolyn C. Shanks, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Mississippi, Inc.;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

   

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Carolyn C. Shanks
Carolyn C. Shanks
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 13 a31g.htm

Exhibit 31(g)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Daniel F. Packer, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy New Orleans, Inc.;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

   

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Daniel F. Packer
Daniel F. Packer
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 14 a31h.htm

Exhibit 31(h)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Gary J. Taylor, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of System Energy Resources, Inc.;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

   

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Gary J. Taylor
Gary J. Taylor
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
System Energy Resources, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 15 a31i.htm

Exhibit 31(i)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Jay A. Lewis, certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed these quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., and Entergy New Orleans, Inc.;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, these reports do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by these reports;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in these reports, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrants as of, and for, the periods presented in these reports;

   

4.

The registrants' other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrants and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrants, including their consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which these reports are being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants' disclosure controls and procedures and presented in these reports our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by these reports based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in these reports any change in the registrants' internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants' most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants' internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrants' other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants' auditors and the audit committee of the registrants' board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants' ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants' internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ Jay A. Lewis
Jay A. Lewis
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc.,
Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc.,
and Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-31 16 a31j.htm

Exhibit 31(j)

CERTIFICATIONS

 

I, Theodore H. Bunting, Jr., certify that:

   

1.

I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of System Energy Resources, Inc.;

   

2.

Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

   

3.

Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

   

4.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

   
 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

   
 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

   
 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

   
 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

   

5.

The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

   
 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

   
 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

 

/s/ Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.
Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of System Energy Resources, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 17 a32a.htm

Exhibit 32(a)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, J. Wayne Leonard, Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

 

 

/s/ J. Wayne Leonard
J. Wayne Leonard
Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 18 a32b.htm

Exhibit 32(b)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Leo P. Denault, Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Corporation (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

 

 

/s/ Leo P. Denault
Leo P. Denault
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Corporation

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 19 a32c.htm

Exhibit 32(c)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Hugh T. McDonald, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Arkansas, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

 

 

__/s/ Hugh T. McDonald
Hugh T. McDonald
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 20 a32d.htm

Exhibit 32(d)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Joseph F. Domino, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer-Texas of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

 

 

___/s/ Joseph F. Domino
Joseph F. Domino
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer-Texas of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

 

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 21 a32e.htm

Exhibit 32(e)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, E. Renae Conley, President and Chief Executive Officer-Louisiana of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Louisiana, Inc. (the "Companies"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of each of the Companies for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in each Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of each respective Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in each Report.

 

 

___/s/ E. Renae Conley
E. Renae Conley
President and Chief Executive Officer-Louisiana of
Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and Chairman, President, and Chief
Executive Officer of Entergy Louisiana, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 22 a32f.htm

Exhibit 32(f)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Carolyn C. Shanks, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Mississippi, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

 

 

__/s/ Carolyn C. Shanks
Carolyn C. Shanks
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 23 a32g.htm

Exhibit 32(g)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Daniel F. Packer, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy New Orleans, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

 

 

___/s/ Daniel F. Packer
Daniel F. Packer
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 24 a32h.htm

Exhibit 32(h)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Gary J. Taylor, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of System Energy Resources, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

 

 

___/s/ Gary J. Taylor
Gary J. Taylor
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
System Energy Resources, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 25 a32i.htm

Exhibit 32(i)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Jay A. Lewis, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., and Entergy New Orleans, Inc. (the "Companies"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of each of the Companies for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in each Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of each respective Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in each Report.

 

 

_/s/ Jay A. Lewis
Jay A. Lewis
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc.,
Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc.,
and Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-32 26 a32j.htm

Exhibit 32(j)

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Theodore H. Bunting, Jr., Chief Financial Officer of System Energy Resources, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

(1)

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended June 30, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

   

(2)

The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

 

 

___/s/ Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.
Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
of System Energy Resources, Inc.

Date: August 4, 2005

EX-99 27 a99a.htm
           Exhibit 99(a)
             
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 
  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31, June 30,
     
  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
             
Total Interest Charges $101,600 $109,523 $103,210 $91,221 $84,430 $85,838
Interest applicable to rentals 16,449 14,563 12,762 15,425 13,171 12,224
             
Total fixed charges, as defined 118,049 124,086 115,972 106,646 97,601 98,062
             
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 13,479 12,348 11,869 14,274 12,646 12,632
             
Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $131,528 $136,434 $127,841 $120,920 $110,247 $110,694
             
Earnings as defined:            
             
  Net Income $137,047 $178,185 $135,643 $126,009 $142,210 $159,879
  Add:            
    Provision for income taxes:            
     Total 100,512 105,933 71,404 105,296 89,064 98,895
    Fixed charges as above 118,049 124,086 115,972 106,646 97,601 98,062
             
Total earnings, as defined $355,608 $408,204 $323,019 $337,951 $328,875 $356,836
             
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 3.01 3.29 2.79 3.17 3.37 3.64
             
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
preferred dividends, as defined 2.70 2.99 2.53 2.79 2.98 3.22
             
             
- ------------------------            
(a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
             
EX-99 28 a99b.htm
           Exhibit 99(b)
             
Entergy Gulf States, Inc.
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 
  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31, June 30,
   
  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
             
Fixed charges, as defined:            
  Total Interest charges $158,949 $174,368 $144,840 $157,343 $133,598 $127,159
  Interest applicable to rentals 18,307 18,520 16,483 16,694 13,707 9,826
             
Total fixed charges, as defined 177,256 192,888 161,323 174,037 147,305 136,985
             
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 15,742 13,017 6,190 6,845 6,991 6,618
             
Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $192,998 $205,905 $167,513 $180,882 $154,296 $143,603
             
Earnings as defined:            
             
Income (loss) from continuing operations before extraordinary items and          
 the cumulative effect of accounting changes $180,343 $179,444 $174,078 $63,895 $192,264 $162,581 
  Add:            
    Income Taxes 103,603 82,038 65,997 24,249 108,288 87,263
    Fixed charges as above 177,256 192,888 161,323 174,037 147,305 136,985
             
Total earnings, as defined (b) $461,202 $454,370 $401,398 $262,181 $447,857 $386,829
             
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.60 2.36 2.49 1.51 3.04 2.82
             
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
preferred dividends, as defined 2.39 2.21 2.40 1.45 2.90 2.69
             
(a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
EX-99 29 a99c.htm
           Exhibit 99(c)
             
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and 
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31, June 30,
   
  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
             
Fixed charges, as defined:            
Total Interest $111,743 $116,076 $100,667 $76,756 $74,141 $77,261
  Interest applicable to rentals 6,458 7,951 6,496 6,359 5,595 4,336
             
Total fixed charges, as defined 118,201 124,027 $107,163 $83,115 $79,736 $81,597
             
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 16,102 12,374 10,647 $11,189 $10,899 $11,057
             
Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $134,303 $136,401 $117,810 $94,304 $90,635 $92,654
             
Earnings as defined:            
             
  Net Income $162,679 $132,550 $144,709 $146,154 $127,495 $138,504
  Add:            
    Provision for income taxes:            
Total Taxes 112,645 86,287 84,765 97,408 79,475 89,809
    Fixed charges as above 118,201 124,027 107,163 83,115 79,736 81,597
             
Total earnings, as defined $393,525 $342,864 $336,637 $326,677 $286,706 $309,910
             
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 3.33 2.76 3.14 3.93 3.60 3.80
             
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
preferred dividends, as defined 2.93 2.51 2.86 3.46 3.16 3.34
             
             
- ------------------------            
(a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
EX-99 30 a99d.htm
          Exhibit 99(d)
             
Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 
 
  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31, June 30,
   
  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
             
Fixed charges, as defined:            
  Total Interest $44,877 $50,991 $45,464 $47,464 $44,637 $42,839
  Interest applicable to rentals 1,596 1,849 1,916 1,880 1,162 783
             
Total fixed charges, as defined 46,473 52,840 $47,380 $49,344 $45,799 $43,622
             
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 5,347 4,674 4,490 5,099 5,067 4,997
             
Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $51,820 $57,514 $51,870 $54,443 $50,866 $48,619
             
Earnings as defined:            
             
  Net Income $38,973 $39,620 $52,408 $67,058 $73,497 $68,992
  Add:            
    Provision for income taxes:            
    Total income taxes 22,868 20,464 17,846 34,431 37,040 33,163
    Fixed charges as above 46,473 52,840 47,380 49,344 45,799 43,622
             
Total earnings, as defined $108,314 $112,924 $117,634 $150,833 $156,336 $145,777
             
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.33 2.14 2.48 3.06 3.41 3.34
             
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
preferred dividends, as defined 2.09 1.96 2.27 2.77 3.07 3.00
             
             
- ------------------------            
(a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate. 
EX-99 31 a99e.htm
           Exhibit 99(e)
             
Entergy New Orleans, Inc. 
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and 
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 
  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31, June 30,
   
  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
             
Fixed charges, as defined:             
 Total Interest $15,891 $19,661  $27,950  $17,786 $16,610 $15,817
 Interest applicable to rentals 1,008 977  1,043  910 644 422
             
Total fixed charges, as defined 16,899 20,638  28,993  18,696 17,254 16,239
             
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 1,643 2,898  2,736  1,686 1,545 1,569
             
Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $18,542 $23,536  $31,729  $20,382 $18,799 $17,808
             
Earnings as defined:            
             
  Net Income $16,518 ($2,195) ($230) $7,859 $28,072 22,749
  Add:            
    Provision for income taxes:            
    Total 11,597 (4,396) (422) 5,875 16,868 14,200
   Fixed charges as above 16,899 20,638  28,993  18,696 17,254 16,239
             
Total earnings, as defined $45,014 $14,047  $28,341  $32,430 $62,194 $53,188
             
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.66 0.68  0.98  1.73 3.60 3.28
             
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
preferred dividends, as defined 2.43 0.60  0.89  1.59 3.31 2.99
             
             
- ------------------------            
(a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
             
(b) For Entergy New Orleans, earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001 were not adequate to cover fixed charges and combined fixed charges and preferred dividends by $6.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively.
             
(c) For Entergy New Orleans, earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002 were not adequate to cover combined fixed charges and preferred dividends by $0.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively.
EX-99 32 a99f.htm
           Exhibit 99(f)
             
System Energy Resources, Inc. 
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges  
  Twelve Months Ended
  December 31, June 30,
   
  2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
             
Fixed charges, as defined:            
  Total Interest $118,519 $138,018 $76,639 $64,620 $58,928 $53,059
  Interest applicable to rentals 5,753 4,458 3,250 3,793 3,426 3,500
             
Total fixed charges, as defined $124,272 $142,476 $79,889 $68,413 $62,354 $56,559
             
Earnings as defined:            
  Net Income $93,745 $116,355 $103,352 $106,003 $105,948 107,906
  Add:            
    Provision for income taxes:            
      Total 81,263 43,761 76,177 75,845 78,013 75,858
    Fixed charges as above 124,272 142,476 79,889 68,413 62,354 56,559
             
Total earnings, as defined $299,280 $302,592 $259,418 $250,261 $246,315 $240,323
             
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.41 2.12 3.25 3.66 3.95 4.25
             
             
             
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