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Rate And Regulatory Matters
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012
Rate And Regulatory Matters

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

 

Regulatory Assets

 

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

 

Correction of Regulatory Asset for Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana determined that its regulatory asset for income taxes was overstated because of a difference between the regulatory treatment of the income taxes associated with certain items (primarily pension expense) and the financial accounting treatment of those taxes. Beginning with Louisiana retail rate filings using the 1994 test year, retail rates were developed using the normalization method of accounting for income taxes. With respect to these items, however, the financial accounting for income taxes was computed using the flow-through method of accounting. As a result, over the years Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accumulated a regulatory asset representing the expected future recovery of tax expense for the affected items even though the tax expense was being collected currently in rates from customers and would not be recovered in the future.

 

The effect was immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy for all prior reporting periods and on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a cumulative adjustment was recorded in the first quarter 2012 to remove the regulatory asset previously recorded. This adjustment increased 2012 income tax expense by $46.3 million, decreased the regulatory asset for income taxes by $75.3 million, and decreased accumulated deferred income taxes by $29 million.

 

            The effect was also immaterial to the balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for all prior reporting periods.  Correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the first quarter 2012 could have been material to the 2012 results of operations of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and, therefore, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is revising its prior period financial statements to correct the errors.  The corrections affect the prior period financial statements as shown in the tables below:

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$38,429 

 

$37,205 

Net income

$51,946 

 

$53,170 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$51,740 

 

$52,964 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$95,352 

 

$92,083 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$146,309 

 

$149,578 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

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


($21,223)

 


($24,492)

Changes in other regulatory assets

$27,171 

 

$21,858  

Other operating activities

$1,814 

 

$7,127  

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

Regulatory asset for income taxes - net

$249,058 

 

$173,724 

Accumulated deferred income taxes - current

$5,427 

 

$5,107 

Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued

$1,397,230 

 

$1,368,563 

Member's equity

$1,439,733 

 

$1,393,386 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

Member's Equity

 

Total Equity

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

$1,539,517

 

$1,494,593

 

$1,509,213

 

$1,464,289

Net income

$146,928

 

$150,197

 

$146,928

 

$150,197

Balance at September 30, 2011

$1,403,857

 

$1,362,202

 

$1,375,268

 

$1,333,613

 

Hurricane Isaac

 

            In August 2012, Hurricane Isaac caused extensive damage to portions of Entergy's service area in Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Arkansas.  The storm resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages.  Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities in areas with damage from Hurricane Isaac are currently estimated to be in the range of $400 million to $500 million, as follows:


 

 

 

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Isaac, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; securitization or other alternative financing; and traditional retail recovery on an interim and permanent basis. Each Utility operating company is responsible for its restoration cost obligations and for recovering or financing its storm-related costs. Storm cost recovery or financing may be subject to review by applicable regulatory authorities.

 

            Entergy has recorded accounts payable for the estimated costs incurred that were necessary to return customers to service.  Entergy recorded corresponding regulatory assets of approximately $130 million and construction work in progress of approximately $270 million.  Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service area because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable.  Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

 

Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery

 

Entergy Texas

 

            In December 2011, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $43 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through October 2011.  Entergy Texas and the parties to the proceeding reached an agreement that Entergy Texas would refund $67 million, including interest and additional over-recoveries through December 2011, over a three-month period.  Entergy Texas and the parties requested that interim rates consistent with the settlement be approved effective with the March 2012 billing month, and the PUCT approved the application in March 2012.  Entergy Texas completed this refund to customers in May 2012.

 

            In October 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $78 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through September 2012.  Entergy Texas requested that the refund be implemented over a six-month period effective with the January 2013 billing month.

 

            In July 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application to credit its customers approximately $37.5 million, including interest, resulting from the FERC's October 2011 order in the System Agreement rough production cost equalization proceeding.  See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's October 2011 order.  In September 2012 the parties submitted a stipulation resolving the proceeding.  The stipulation provides that Entergy Texas customers will be credited over a four-month period beginning October 2012.  The credits were initiated with the October 2012 billing month on an interim basis, and the PUCT subsequently approved the stipulation, also in October 2012.

 


Retail Rate Proceedings

 

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

 

Filings with the LPSC

 

(Entergy Gulf States Louisiana)

 

            In January 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2011.  The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 10.48%, which is within the earnings bandwidth of 10.5%, plus or minus fifty basis points.  In April 2012, the LPSC Staff filed its findings, suggesting adjustments that produced an 11.54% earned return on common equity for the test year and a $0.1 million rate reduction.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accepted the LPSC Staff's recommendations, and the rate reduction was effective with the first billing cycle of May 2012.  Related to the annual gas rate stabilization plan proceedings, the LPSC directed its staff to initiate an evaluation of the 10.5% allowed return on common equity for the Entergy Gulf States Louisiana gas rate stabilization plan.  The LPSC directed that its staff should provide an analysis of the current return on equity and justification for any proposed changes to the return on equity.  In August 2012 the LPSC staff filed direct testimony recommending a midpoint return on equity of 9.3%.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed responsive testimony recommending that the 10.5% return on equity remain unchanged.  The hearing in this proceeding is currently scheduled for November 8-9, 2012.

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected an 11.94% earned return on common equity, which is above the earnings bandwidth and would indicate a $6.5 million cost of service rate change was necessary under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected a $22.9 million rate decrease for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in August 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 11.86% indicating a $5.7 million cost of service rate decrease is necessary under the formula rate plan.  The revised filing also indicates that a reduction of $20.3 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate reductions were implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change reduced Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's revenues by approximately $2.2 million in the third quarter 2012.

 

(Entergy Louisiana)

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected a 9.63% earned return on common equity, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no cost of service rate change under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected an $18.1 million rate increase for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in June 2012, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the filing to estimate at $101 million the first-year revenue requirement associated with the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project when it is placed into service.  In August 2012, Entergy Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 10.38%, which is still within the earnings bandwidth, resulting in no cost of service rate change.  The revised filing also indicates that an increase of $15.9 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate change was implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change contributed approximately $1.3 million to Entergy Louisiana's revenues in the third quarter 2012.

 

Filings with the MPSC

 

            In March 2012, Entergy Mississippi submitted its formula rate plan filing for the 2011 test year.  The filing shows an earned return on common equity of 10.92% for the test year, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no change in rates.  The filing is currently subject to MPSC review.

 


Filings with the City Council

 

            In May 2012, Entergy New Orleans filed its electric and gas formula rate plan evaluation reports for the 2011 test year.  Subsequent adjustments agreed upon with the City Council Advisors indicate a $4.9 million electric base revenue increase and a $0.05 million gas base revenue increase as necessary under the formula rate plan.  As part of the original filing, Entergy New Orleans is also requesting to increase annual funding for its storm reserve by approximately $5.7 million for the next five years.  On September 26, 2012, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council that implemented the $4.9 million electric formula rate plan rate increase and the $0.05 million gas formula rate plan rate increase.  The new rates were effective with the first billing cycle in October 2012.  In October 2012 the City Council approved a procedural schedule to resolve disputed items that includes a hearing in April 2013.  The rates implemented in October 2012 are subject to retroactive adjustments depending on the outcome of the proceeding.  The City Council has not yet acted on Entergy New Orleans's request for an increase in storm reserve funding.

 

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the rate case that Entergy Texas filed in November 2011 requesting a $112 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.6% return on common equity based on an adjusted June 2011 test year. In April 2012 the PUCT Staff filed direct testimony recommending a base rate increase of $66 million and a 9.6% return on common equity.  The PUCT Staff, however, subsequently filed a statement of position in the proceeding indicating that it was still evaluating the position it would ultimately take in the case regarding Entergy Texas's recovery of purchased power capacity costs and Entergy Texas's proposal to defer its MISO transition expenses.  In April 2012, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony indicating a revised request for a $105 million base rate increase.  A hearing was held in late-April through early-May 2012.  During the hearing and in its post-hearing brief the PUCT Staff revised its recommendation to a base rate increase of $27 million.

 

In September 2012 the PUCT issued an order approving a $28 million rate increase, effective July 2012.  The order includes a finding that "a return on common equity (ROE) of 9.80 percent will allow [Entergy Texas] a reasonable opportunity to earn a reasonable return on invested capital."  The order also provides for increases in depreciation rates and the annual storm reserve accrual.  The order also reduced Entergy Texas's proposed purchased power capacity costs, stating that they are not known and measureable; reduced Entergy Texas's regulatory assets associated with Hurricane Rita; excluded from rate recovery capitalized financially-based incentive compensation; included $1.6 million of MISO transition expense in base rates, and reduced Entergy's Texas's fuel reconciliation recovery by $4.0 million because it disagreed with  the line-loss factor used in the calculation.  After considering the progress of the proceeding in light of the PUCT order, Entergy Texas recorded in the third quarter 2012 an approximate $24 million charge to recognize that assets associated with Hurricane Rita, financially-based incentive compensation, and fuel recovery are no longer probable of recovery.  Entergy Texas continues to believe that it is entitled to recover these prudently incurred costs, however, and it filed a motion for rehearing regarding these and several other issues in the PUCT's order on October 4, 2012.  Several other parties have also filed motions for rehearing of the PUCT's order.  The PUCT subsequently denied rehearing of substantive issues.

 

System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC's October 2011 order, Entergy's December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order, and Entergy Arkansas's February 2012 filing for an interim adjustment to its production cost allocation rider requesting that the $156 million payment be collected from customers over the 22-month period from March 2012 through December 2013.  In March 2012 the APSC issued an order stating that the payment can be recovered from retail customers through the production cost allocation rider, subject to refund.  The LPSC and the APSC have requested rehearing of the FERC's October 2011 order.  The APSC, the LPSC, the PUCT, and other parties intervened in the December 2011 compliance filing proceeding, and the APSC and the LPSC also filed protests.

 


            On May 7, 2012, the FERC issued orders in several System Agreement proceedings, including an order on rehearing in the 2007 rate filing based on 2006 production costs proceeding, an order on the ALJ's initial decision in the 2009 rate filing based on 2008 production costs proceeding, and orders in other proceedings regarding the method of calculating the production costs used in the determination of the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts.  The May 7, 2012 FERC orders may result in the reallocation of costs among the Utility operating companies, although there are still FERC decisions pending in other System Agreement proceedings that could affect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts, including for the 2007 rate filing.  The FERC directed Entergy, within 45 days of the issuance of a pending FERC order on rehearing regarding the functionalization of costs in the 2007 rate filing, to file a comprehensive bandwidth recalculation report showing updated payments and receipts in the 2007 rate filing proceeding.  In the order in the 2007 rate filing proceeding, the FERC also denied Entergy's request for rehearing regarding the AmerenUE contract and ordered Entergy Arkansas to refund to AmerenUE the rough production cost equalization payments collected from AmerenUE.  Under the terms of the FERC's order the refund of $30.6 million, including interest, was made in June 2012.  Entergy Arkansas had previously recorded a regulatory provision for the potential refund to AmerenUE.  Entergy has appealed the FERC's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

 

2012 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2011 Production Costs

 

            In May 2012, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2012 rates in accordance with the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding.  The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2012, based on calendar year 2011 production costs, commencing for service in June 2012, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

 

 

 

 Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

$41

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

$-

Entergy Louisiana

($41)

Entergy Mississippi

$-

Entergy New Orleans

$-

Entergy Texas

$-

 

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the LPSC, which filed a protest as well. In August 2012, the FERC accepted Entergy's proposed rates for filing, effective June 2012, subject to refund, set the proceeding for hearing procedures, and then held those procedures in abeyance pending FERC decisions in prior production cost proceedings currently before the FERC on review.

 

Interruptible Load Proceeding

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceeding regarding the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  Entergy Arkansas filed an application in November 2010 with the APSC for recovery of the refund that it paid.  The APSC denied Entergy Arkansas's application, and also denied Entergy Arkansas's petition for rehearing.  If the FERC were to order Entergy Arkansas to pay refunds on rehearing in the interruptible load proceeding the APSC's decision would trap FERC-approved costs at Entergy Arkansas with no regulatory-approved mechanism to recover them.  In August 2011, Entergy Arkansas filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas asking for a declaratory judgment that the rejection of Entergy Arkansas's application by the APSC is preempted by the Federal Power Act.  The APSC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.  In April 2012 the United States district court dismissed Entergy Arkansas's complaint without prejudice stating that Entergy Arkansas's claim is not ripe for adjudication and that Entergy Arkansas did not have standing to bring suit at this time.

 

Entergy Arkansas Opportunity Sales Proceeding

 

            In June 2009, the LPSC filed a complaint requesting that the FERC determine that certain of Entergy Arkansas's sales of electric energy to third parties: (a) violated the provisions of the System Agreement that allocate the energy generated by Entergy System resources, (b) imprudently denied the Entergy System and its ultimate consumers the benefits of low-cost Entergy System generating capacity, and (c) violated the provision of the System Agreement that prohibits sales to third parties by individual companies absent an offer of a right-of-first-refusal to other Utility operating companies.   The LPSC's complaint challenged sales made beginning in 2002 and requested refunds.  In their response to the complaint, the Utility operating companies explained that the System Agreement clearly contemplates that the Utility operating companies may make sales to third parties for their own account, subject to the requirement that those sales be included in the load (or load shape) for the applicable Utility operating company.  The response further explained that the FERC already has determined that Entergy Arkansas's short-term wholesale sales did not trigger the "right-of-first-refusal" provision of the System Agreement.  In addition the response argued that while the D.C. Circuit had determined that the "right-of-first-refusal" issue was not properly before the FERC at the time of its earlier decision on the issue, the LPSC raised no additional claims or facts that would warrant the FERC reaching a different conclusion.

 

            In December 2010 the ALJ issued an initial decision.  The ALJ found that the System Agreement allowed for Entergy Arkansas to make the sales to third parties but concluded that the sales should be accounted for in the same manner as joint account sales.  The ALJ concluded that "shareholders" should make refunds of the damages to the Utility operating companies, along with interest.  Entergy disagreed with several aspects of the ALJ's initial decision and in January 2011 filed with the FERC exceptions to the decision.

 

            The FERC issued a decision in June 2012 and held that, while the System Agreement is ambiguous, it does provide authority for individual Utility operating companies to make opportunity sales for their own account and Entergy Arkansas made and priced these sales in good faith.  The FERC found, however, that the System Agreement does not provide authority for an individual Utility operating company to allocate the energy associated with such opportunity sales as part of its load, but provides a different allocation authority.  The FERC further found that the after-the-fact accounting methodology used to allocate the energy used to supply the sales was inconsistent with the System Agreement.  Quantifying the effect of the FERC's decision will require re-running intra-system bills for a ten-year period, and the FERC in its decision established further hearing procedures to determine the calculation of the effects.

 

                As required by the procedural schedule established in the calculation proceeding, Entergy filed its direct testimony that included a proposed illustrative re-run, consistent with the directives in FERC's order, of intra-system bills for 2003, 2004, and 2006, the three years with the highest volume of opportunity sales. Entergy's proposed illustrative re-run of intra-system bills shows that the potential cost for Entergy Arkansas would be up to $12 million for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the potential benefit would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies. Entergy's proposed illustrative rerun of the intra-system bills also shows an offsetting potential benefit to Entergy Arkansas for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006 resulting from the effects of the FERC's order on System Agreement Service Schedules MSS-1, MSS-2, and MSS-3, and the potential offsetting cost would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies.  The LPSC had previously filed direct testimony in the proceeding alleging that over the period 2000 - 2009 the sales caused harm to the Utility operating companies' customers of $144 million. In subsequent testimony, however, the LPSC modified its original damages claim in favor of quantifying damages by re-running intra-system bills. Entergy provided to the LPSC an illustrative intra-system bill recalculation as specified by the LPSC for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the LPSC's answering testimony is due in December 2012. The FERC staff's and intervenors' direct and answering testimony is due in February 2013, a hearing is scheduled for May 2013, and the ALJ's initial decision on the calculation of the effects is due by August 28, 2013.

 

            On July 23, 2012, Entergy and the LPSC filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's June 2012 decision, which are pending with the FERC.

 

Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Act 55 financing of its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs. In February 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana sold 500,000 of its Class A preferred membership units in Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a wholly-owned Entergy subsidiary, to a third party in exchange for $51 million plus accrued but unpaid distributions on the units. The 500,000 preferred membership units are mandatorily redeemable in January 2112.

 

New Nuclear Generation Development Costs (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

 

            Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana are developing a project option for new nuclear generation at River Bend.  In March 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC seeking approval to continue the limited development activities necessary to preserve an option to construct a new unit at River Bend.  The testimony and legal briefs of the LPSC staff generally support the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana, although other parties filed briefs, without supporting testimony, in opposition to the request.  At an evidentiary hearing in October 2011, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the LPSC staff presented testimony in support of certification of activities to preserve an option for a new nuclear plant at River Bend.  The ALJ recommended, however, that the LPSC decline the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana on the basis that the LPSC's rule on new nuclear development does not apply to activities to preserve an option to develop and on the further grounds that the companies improperly engaged in advanced preparation activities prior to certification.  There has been no suggestion that the planning activities or costs incurred were imprudent.  At its June 28, 2012 meeting the LPSC voted to uphold the ALJ's decision and directed that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana be permitted to seek recovery of these costs in the rate case filings that are anticipated in January 2013, fully reserving the LPSC's right to determine the recoverability of such costs in rates.  On September 10, 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a petition for appeal and judicial review of the LPSC's order with the Louisiana Nineteenth Judicial District Court.  A schedule for the appeal has not been established.

 

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

 

            In August 2003, a lawsuit was filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present.  The named defendants include Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, Entergy Power, Entergy Power Marketing Corp., and Entergy Arkansas.  Entergy Gulf States, Inc. was not a named defendant, but was alleged to be a co-conspirator.  The court granted the request of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. to intervene in the lawsuit to protect its interests.

 

            Plaintiffs allege that the defendants implemented a "price gouging accounting scheme" to sell to plaintiffs and similarly situated utility customers higher priced power generated by the defendants while rejecting less expensive power offered from off-system suppliers.  In particular, plaintiffs allege that the defendants manipulated and continue to manipulate the dispatch of generation so that power is purchased from affiliated expensive resources instead of buying cheaper off-system power.

 

            Plaintiffs stated in their pleadings that customers in Texas were charged at least $57 million above prevailing market prices for power.  Plaintiffs seek actual, consequential and exemplary damages, costs and attorneys' fees, and disgorgement of profits.  The plaintiffs' experts have tendered a report calculating damages in a large range, from $153 million to $972 million in present value, under various scenarios.  The Entergy defendants have tendered expert reports challenging the assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions of the plaintiffs' expert reports.

 

           


The case is pending in state district court, and in March 2012 the court found that the case met the requirements to be maintained as a class action under Texas law. On April 30, 2012, the court entered an order certifying the class. The defendants have appealed the order to the Texas Court of Appeals – First District. The appeal is pending and proceedings in district court are stayed until the appeal is resolved.

Entergy Arkansas [Member]
 
Rate And Regulatory Matters

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

 

Regulatory Assets

 

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

 

Correction of Regulatory Asset for Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana determined that its regulatory asset for income taxes was overstated because of a difference between the regulatory treatment of the income taxes associated with certain items (primarily pension expense) and the financial accounting treatment of those taxes. Beginning with Louisiana retail rate filings using the 1994 test year, retail rates were developed using the normalization method of accounting for income taxes. With respect to these items, however, the financial accounting for income taxes was computed using the flow-through method of accounting. As a result, over the years Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accumulated a regulatory asset representing the expected future recovery of tax expense for the affected items even though the tax expense was being collected currently in rates from customers and would not be recovered in the future.

 

The effect was immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy for all prior reporting periods and on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a cumulative adjustment was recorded in the first quarter 2012 to remove the regulatory asset previously recorded. This adjustment increased 2012 income tax expense by $46.3 million, decreased the regulatory asset for income taxes by $75.3 million, and decreased accumulated deferred income taxes by $29 million.

 

            The effect was also immaterial to the balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for all prior reporting periods.  Correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the first quarter 2012 could have been material to the 2012 results of operations of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and, therefore, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is revising its prior period financial statements to correct the errors.  The corrections affect the prior period financial statements as shown in the tables below:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$38,429 

 

$37,205 

Net income

$51,946 

 

$53,170 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$51,740 

 

$52,964 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$95,352 

 

$92,083 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$146,309 

 

$149,578 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

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


($21,223)

 


($24,492)

Changes in other regulatory assets

$27,171 

 

$21,858  

Other operating activities

$1,814 

 

$7,127  

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

Regulatory asset for income taxes - net

$249,058 

 

$173,724 

Accumulated deferred income taxes - current

$5,427 

 

$5,107 

Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued

$1,397,230 

 

$1,368,563 

Member's equity

$1,439,733 

 

$1,393,386 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

Member's Equity

 

Total Equity

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

$1,539,517

 

$1,494,593

 

$1,509,213

 

$1,464,289

Net income

$146,928

 

$150,197

 

$146,928

 

$150,197

Balance at September 30, 2011

$1,403,857

 

$1,362,202

 

$1,375,268

 

$1,333,613

 

Hurricane Isaac

 

            In August 2012, Hurricane Isaac caused extensive damage to portions of Entergy's service area in Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Arkansas.  The storm resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages.  Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities in areas with damage from Hurricane Isaac are currently estimated to be in the range of $400 million to $500 million, as follows:


 

 


Company

 

Hurricane Isaac
Restoration Costs

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

$10

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

70-90

Entergy Louisiana

 

240-300

Entergy Mississippi

 

30-40

Entergy New Orleans

 

50-60

Total

 

$400-500

 

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Isaac, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; securitization or other alternative financing; and traditional retail recovery on an interim and permanent basis. Each Utility operating company is responsible for its restoration cost obligations and for recovering or financing its storm-related costs. Storm cost recovery or financing may be subject to review by applicable regulatory authorities.

 

            Entergy has recorded accounts payable for the estimated costs incurred that were necessary to return customers to service.  Entergy recorded corresponding regulatory assets of approximately $130 million and construction work in progress of approximately $270 million.  Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service area because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable.  Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

 

Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery

 

Entergy Texas

 

            In December 2011, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $43 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through October 2011.  Entergy Texas and the parties to the proceeding reached an agreement that Entergy Texas would refund $67 million, including interest and additional over-recoveries through December 2011, over a three-month period.  Entergy Texas and the parties requested that interim rates consistent with the settlement be approved effective with the March 2012 billing month, and the PUCT approved the application in March 2012.  Entergy Texas completed this refund to customers in May 2012.

 

            In October 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $78 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through September 2012.  Entergy Texas requested that the refund be implemented over a six-month period effective with the January 2013 billing month.

 

            In July 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application to credit its customers approximately $37.5 million, including interest, resulting from the FERC's October 2011 order in the System Agreement rough production cost equalization proceeding.  See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's October 2011 order.  In September 2012 the parties submitted a stipulation resolving the proceeding.  The stipulation provides that Entergy Texas customers will be credited over a four-month period beginning October 2012.  The credits were initiated with the October 2012 billing month on an interim basis, and the PUCT subsequently approved the stipulation, also in October 2012.

 


Retail Rate Proceedings

 

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

 

Filings with the LPSC

 

(Entergy Gulf States Louisiana)

 

            In January 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2011.  The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 10.48%, which is within the earnings bandwidth of 10.5%, plus or minus fifty basis points.  In April 2012, the LPSC Staff filed its findings, suggesting adjustments that produced an 11.54% earned return on common equity for the test year and a $0.1 million rate reduction.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accepted the LPSC Staff's recommendations, and the rate reduction was effective with the first billing cycle of May 2012.  Related to the annual gas rate stabilization plan proceedings, the LPSC directed its staff to initiate an evaluation of the 10.5% allowed return on common equity for the Entergy Gulf States Louisiana gas rate stabilization plan.  The LPSC directed that its staff should provide an analysis of the current return on equity and justification for any proposed changes to the return on equity.  In August 2012 the LPSC staff filed direct testimony recommending a midpoint return on equity of 9.3%.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed responsive testimony recommending that the 10.5% return on equity remain unchanged.  The hearing in this proceeding is currently scheduled for November 8-9, 2012.

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected an 11.94% earned return on common equity, which is above the earnings bandwidth and would indicate a $6.5 million cost of service rate change was necessary under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected a $22.9 million rate decrease for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in August 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 11.86% indicating a $5.7 million cost of service rate decrease is necessary under the formula rate plan.  The revised filing also indicates that a reduction of $20.3 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate reductions were implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change reduced Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's revenues by approximately $2.2 million in the third quarter 2012.

 

(Entergy Louisiana)

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected a 9.63% earned return on common equity, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no cost of service rate change under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected an $18.1 million rate increase for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in June 2012, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the filing to estimate at $101 million the first-year revenue requirement associated with the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project when it is placed into service.  In August 2012, Entergy Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 10.38%, which is still within the earnings bandwidth, resulting in no cost of service rate change.  The revised filing also indicates that an increase of $15.9 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate change was implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change contributed approximately $1.3 million to Entergy Louisiana's revenues in the third quarter 2012.

 

Filings with the MPSC

 

            In March 2012, Entergy Mississippi submitted its formula rate plan filing for the 2011 test year.  The filing shows an earned return on common equity of 10.92% for the test year, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no change in rates.  The filing is currently subject to MPSC review.

 


Filings with the City Council

 

            In May 2012, Entergy New Orleans filed its electric and gas formula rate plan evaluation reports for the 2011 test year.  Subsequent adjustments agreed upon with the City Council Advisors indicate a $4.9 million electric base revenue increase and a $0.05 million gas base revenue increase as necessary under the formula rate plan.  As part of the original filing, Entergy New Orleans is also requesting to increase annual funding for its storm reserve by approximately $5.7 million for the next five years.  On September 26, 2012, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council that implemented the $4.9 million electric formula rate plan rate increase and the $0.05 million gas formula rate plan rate increase.  The new rates were effective with the first billing cycle in October 2012.  In October 2012 the City Council approved a procedural schedule to resolve disputed items that includes a hearing in April 2013.  The rates implemented in October 2012 are subject to retroactive adjustments depending on the outcome of the proceeding.  The City Council has not yet acted on Entergy New Orleans's request for an increase in storm reserve funding.

 

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the rate case that Entergy Texas filed in November 2011 requesting a $112 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.6% return on common equity based on an adjusted June 2011 test year. In April 2012 the PUCT Staff filed direct testimony recommending a base rate increase of $66 million and a 9.6% return on common equity.  The PUCT Staff, however, subsequently filed a statement of position in the proceeding indicating that it was still evaluating the position it would ultimately take in the case regarding Entergy Texas's recovery of purchased power capacity costs and Entergy Texas's proposal to defer its MISO transition expenses.  In April 2012, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony indicating a revised request for a $105 million base rate increase.  A hearing was held in late-April through early-May 2012.  During the hearing and in its post-hearing brief the PUCT Staff revised its recommendation to a base rate increase of $27 million.

 

In September 2012 the PUCT issued an order approving a $28 million rate increase, effective July 2012.  The order includes a finding that "a return on common equity (ROE) of 9.80 percent will allow [Entergy Texas] a reasonable opportunity to earn a reasonable return on invested capital."  The order also provides for increases in depreciation rates and the annual storm reserve accrual.  The order also reduced Entergy Texas's proposed purchased power capacity costs, stating that they are not known and measureable; reduced Entergy Texas's regulatory assets associated with Hurricane Rita; excluded from rate recovery capitalized financially-based incentive compensation; included $1.6 million of MISO transition expense in base rates, and reduced Entergy's Texas's fuel reconciliation recovery by $4.0 million because it disagreed with  the line-loss factor used in the calculation.  After considering the progress of the proceeding in light of the PUCT order, Entergy Texas recorded in the third quarter 2012 an approximate $24 million charge to recognize that assets associated with Hurricane Rita, financially-based incentive compensation, and fuel recovery are no longer probable of recovery.  Entergy Texas continues to believe that it is entitled to recover these prudently incurred costs, however, and it filed a motion for rehearing regarding these and several other issues in the PUCT's order on October 4, 2012.  Several other parties have also filed motions for rehearing of the PUCT's order.  The PUCT subsequently denied rehearing of substantive issues.

 

System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC's October 2011 order, Entergy's December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order, and Entergy Arkansas's February 2012 filing for an interim adjustment to its production cost allocation rider requesting that the $156 million payment be collected from customers over the 22-month period from March 2012 through December 2013.  In March 2012 the APSC issued an order stating that the payment can be recovered from retail customers through the production cost allocation rider, subject to refund.  The LPSC and the APSC have requested rehearing of the FERC's October 2011 order.  The APSC, the LPSC, the PUCT, and other parties intervened in the December 2011 compliance filing proceeding, and the APSC and the LPSC also filed protests.

 


            On May 7, 2012, the FERC issued orders in several System Agreement proceedings, including an order on rehearing in the 2007 rate filing based on 2006 production costs proceeding, an order on the ALJ's initial decision in the 2009 rate filing based on 2008 production costs proceeding, and orders in other proceedings regarding the method of calculating the production costs used in the determination of the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts.  The May 7, 2012 FERC orders may result in the reallocation of costs among the Utility operating companies, although there are still FERC decisions pending in other System Agreement proceedings that could affect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts, including for the 2007 rate filing.  The FERC directed Entergy, within 45 days of the issuance of a pending FERC order on rehearing regarding the functionalization of costs in the 2007 rate filing, to file a comprehensive bandwidth recalculation report showing updated payments and receipts in the 2007 rate filing proceeding.  In the order in the 2007 rate filing proceeding, the FERC also denied Entergy's request for rehearing regarding the AmerenUE contract and ordered Entergy Arkansas to refund to AmerenUE the rough production cost equalization payments collected from AmerenUE.  Under the terms of the FERC's order the refund of $30.6 million, including interest, was made in June 2012.  Entergy Arkansas had previously recorded a regulatory provision for the potential refund to AmerenUE.  Entergy has appealed the FERC's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

 

2012 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2011 Production Costs

 

            In May 2012, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2012 rates in accordance with the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding.  The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2012, based on calendar year 2011 production costs, commencing for service in June 2012, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

 

 

 

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the LPSC, which filed a protest as well. In August 2012, the FERC accepted Entergy's proposed rates for filing, effective June 2012, subject to refund, set the proceeding for hearing procedures, and then held those procedures in abeyance pending FERC decisions in prior production cost proceedings currently before the FERC on review.

 

Interruptible Load Proceeding

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceeding regarding the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  Entergy Arkansas filed an application in November 2010 with the APSC for recovery of the refund that it paid.  The APSC denied Entergy Arkansas's application, and also denied Entergy Arkansas's petition for rehearing.  If the FERC were to order Entergy Arkansas to pay refunds on rehearing in the interruptible load proceeding the APSC's decision would trap FERC-approved costs at Entergy Arkansas with no regulatory-approved mechanism to recover them.  In August 2011, Entergy Arkansas filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas asking for a declaratory judgment that the rejection of Entergy Arkansas's application by the APSC is preempted by the Federal Power Act.  The APSC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.  In April 2012 the United States district court dismissed Entergy Arkansas's complaint without prejudice stating that Entergy Arkansas's claim is not ripe for adjudication and that Entergy Arkansas did not have standing to bring suit at this time.

 

Entergy Arkansas Opportunity Sales Proceeding

 

            In June 2009, the LPSC filed a complaint requesting that the FERC determine that certain of Entergy Arkansas's sales of electric energy to third parties: (a) violated the provisions of the System Agreement that allocate the energy generated by Entergy System resources, (b) imprudently denied the Entergy System and its ultimate consumers the benefits of low-cost Entergy System generating capacity, and (c) violated the provision of the System Agreement that prohibits sales to third parties by individual companies absent an offer of a right-of-first-refusal to other Utility operating companies.   The LPSC's complaint challenged sales made beginning in 2002 and requested refunds.  In their response to the complaint, the Utility operating companies explained that the System Agreement clearly contemplates that the Utility operating companies may make sales to third parties for their own account, subject to the requirement that those sales be included in the load (or load shape) for the applicable Utility operating company.  The response further explained that the FERC already has determined that Entergy Arkansas's short-term wholesale sales did not trigger the "right-of-first-refusal" provision of the System Agreement.  In addition the response argued that while the D.C. Circuit had determined that the "right-of-first-refusal" issue was not properly before the FERC at the time of its earlier decision on the issue, the LPSC raised no additional claims or facts that would warrant the FERC reaching a different conclusion.

 

            In December 2010 the ALJ issued an initial decision.  The ALJ found that the System Agreement allowed for Entergy Arkansas to make the sales to third parties but concluded that the sales should be accounted for in the same manner as joint account sales.  The ALJ concluded that "shareholders" should make refunds of the damages to the Utility operating companies, along with interest.  Entergy disagreed with several aspects of the ALJ's initial decision and in January 2011 filed with the FERC exceptions to the decision.

 

            The FERC issued a decision in June 2012 and held that, while the System Agreement is ambiguous, it does provide authority for individual Utility operating companies to make opportunity sales for their own account and Entergy Arkansas made and priced these sales in good faith.  The FERC found, however, that the System Agreement does not provide authority for an individual Utility operating company to allocate the energy associated with such opportunity sales as part of its load, but provides a different allocation authority.  The FERC further found that the after-the-fact accounting methodology used to allocate the energy used to supply the sales was inconsistent with the System Agreement.  Quantifying the effect of the FERC's decision will require re-running intra-system bills for a ten-year period, and the FERC in its decision established further hearing procedures to determine the calculation of the effects.

 

                     As required by the procedural schedule established in the calculation proceeding, Entergy filed its direct testimony that included a proposed illustrative re-run, consistent with the directives in FERC's order, of intra-system bills for 2003, 2004, and 2006, the three years with the highest volume of opportunity sales. Entergy's proposed illustrative re-run of intra-system bills shows that the potential cost for Entergy Arkansas would be up to $12 million for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the potential benefit would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies. Entergy's proposed illustrative rerun of the intra-system bills also shows an offsetting potential benefit to Entergy Arkansas for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006 resulting from the effects of the FERC's order on System Agreement Service Schedules MSS-1, MSS-2, and MSS-3, and the potential offsetting cost would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies.  The LPSC had previously filed direct testimony in the proceeding alleging that over the period 2000 - 2009 the sales caused harm to the Utility operating companies' customers of $144 million. In subsequent testimony, however, the LPSC modified its original damages claim in favor of quantifying damages by re-running intra-system bills. Entergy provided to the LPSC an illustrative intra-system bill recalculation as specified by the LPSC for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the LPSC's answering testimony is due in December 2012. The FERC staff's and intervenors' direct and answering testimony is due in February 2013, a hearing is scheduled for May 2013, and the ALJ's initial decision on the calculation of the effects is due by August 28, 2013.

           

                            On July 23, 2012, Entergy and the LPSC filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's June 2012 decision, which are pending with the FERC.

 


Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Act 55 financing of its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs. In February 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana sold 500,000 of its Class A preferred membership units in Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a wholly-owned Entergy subsidiary, to a third party in exchange for $51 million plus accrued but unpaid distributions on the units. The 500,000 preferred membership units are mandatorily redeemable in January 2112.

 

New Nuclear Generation Development Costs (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

 

            Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana are developing a project option for new nuclear generation at River Bend.  In March 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC seeking approval to continue the limited development activities necessary to preserve an option to construct a new unit at River Bend.  The testimony and legal briefs of the LPSC staff generally support the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana, although other parties filed briefs, without supporting testimony, in opposition to the request.  At an evidentiary hearing in October 2011, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the LPSC staff presented testimony in support of certification of activities to preserve an option for a new nuclear plant at River Bend.  The ALJ recommended, however, that the LPSC decline the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana on the basis that the LPSC's rule on new nuclear development does not apply to activities to preserve an option to develop and on the further grounds that the companies improperly engaged in advanced preparation activities prior to certification.  There has been no suggestion that the planning activities or costs incurred were imprudent.  At its June 28, 2012 meeting the LPSC voted to uphold the ALJ's decision and directed that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana be permitted to seek recovery of these costs in the rate case filings that are anticipated in January 2013, fully reserving the LPSC's right to determine the recoverability of such costs in rates.  On September 10, 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a petition for appeal and judicial review of the LPSC's order with the Louisiana Nineteenth Judicial District Court.  A schedule for the appeal has not been established.

 

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

 

            In August 2003, a lawsuit was filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present.  The named defendants include Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, Entergy Power, Entergy Power Marketing Corp., and Entergy Arkansas.  Entergy Gulf States, Inc. was not a named defendant, but was alleged to be a co-conspirator.  The court granted the request of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. to intervene in the lawsuit to protect its interests.

 

            Plaintiffs allege that the defendants implemented a "price gouging accounting scheme" to sell to plaintiffs and similarly situated utility customers higher priced power generated by the defendants while rejecting less expensive power offered from off-system suppliers.  In particular, plaintiffs allege that the defendants manipulated and continue to manipulate the dispatch of generation so that power is purchased from affiliated expensive resources instead of buying cheaper off-system power.

 

            Plaintiffs stated in their pleadings that customers in Texas were charged at least $57 million above prevailing market prices for power.  Plaintiffs seek actual, consequential and exemplary damages, costs and attorneys' fees, and disgorgement of profits.  The plaintiffs' experts have tendered a report calculating damages in a large range, from $153 million to $972 million in present value, under various scenarios.  The Entergy defendants have tendered expert reports challenging the assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions of the plaintiffs' expert reports.

           

The case is pending in state district court, and in March 2012 the court found that the case met the requirements to be maintained as a class action under Texas law. On April 30, 2012, the court entered an order certifying the class. The defendants have appealed the order to the Texas Court of Appeals – First District. The appeal is pending and proceedings in district court are stayed until the appeal is resolved.

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member]
 
Rate And Regulatory Matters

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

 

Regulatory Assets

 

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

 

Correction of Regulatory Asset for Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana determined that its regulatory asset for income taxes was overstated because of a difference between the regulatory treatment of the income taxes associated with certain items (primarily pension expense) and the financial accounting treatment of those taxes. Beginning with Louisiana retail rate filings using the 1994 test year, retail rates were developed using the normalization method of accounting for income taxes. With respect to these items, however, the financial accounting for income taxes was computed using the flow-through method of accounting. As a result, over the years Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accumulated a regulatory asset representing the expected future recovery of tax expense for the affected items even though the tax expense was being collected currently in rates from customers and would not be recovered in the future.

 

The effect was immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy for all prior reporting periods and on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a cumulative adjustment was recorded in the first quarter 2012 to remove the regulatory asset previously recorded. This adjustment increased 2012 income tax expense by $46.3 million, decreased the regulatory asset for income taxes by $75.3 million, and decreased accumulated deferred income taxes by $29 million.

 

            The effect was also immaterial to the balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for all prior reporting periods.  Correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the first quarter 2012 could have been material to the 2012 results of operations of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and, therefore, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is revising its prior period financial statements to correct the errors.  The corrections affect the prior period financial statements as shown in the tables below:

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Isaac

 

            In August 2012, Hurricane Isaac caused extensive damage to portions of Entergy's service area in Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Arkansas.  The storm resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages.  Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities in areas with damage from Hurricane Isaac are currently estimated to be in the range of $400 million to $500 million, as follows:


 

 

 

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Isaac, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; securitization or other alternative financing; and traditional retail recovery on an interim and permanent basis. Each Utility operating company is responsible for its restoration cost obligations and for recovering or financing its storm-related costs. Storm cost recovery or financing may be subject to review by applicable regulatory authorities.

 

            Entergy has recorded accounts payable for the estimated costs incurred that were necessary to return customers to service.  Entergy recorded corresponding regulatory assets of approximately $130 million and construction work in progress of approximately $270 million.  Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service area because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable.  Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

 

Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery

 

Entergy Texas

 

            In December 2011, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $43 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through October 2011.  Entergy Texas and the parties to the proceeding reached an agreement that Entergy Texas would refund $67 million, including interest and additional over-recoveries through December 2011, over a three-month period.  Entergy Texas and the parties requested that interim rates consistent with the settlement be approved effective with the March 2012 billing month, and the PUCT approved the application in March 2012.  Entergy Texas completed this refund to customers in May 2012.

 

            In October 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $78 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through September 2012.  Entergy Texas requested that the refund be implemented over a six-month period effective with the January 2013 billing month.

 

            In July 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application to credit its customers approximately $37.5 million, including interest, resulting from the FERC's October 2011 order in the System Agreement rough production cost equalization proceeding.  See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's October 2011 order.  In September 2012 the parties submitted a stipulation resolving the proceeding.  The stipulation provides that Entergy Texas customers will be credited over a four-month period beginning October 2012.  The credits were initiated with the October 2012 billing month on an interim basis, and the PUCT subsequently approved the stipulation, also in October 2012.

 


Retail Rate Proceedings

 

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

 

Filings with the LPSC

 

(Entergy Gulf States Louisiana)

 

            In January 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2011.  The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 10.48%, which is within the earnings bandwidth of 10.5%, plus or minus fifty basis points.  In April 2012, the LPSC Staff filed its findings, suggesting adjustments that produced an 11.54% earned return on common equity for the test year and a $0.1 million rate reduction.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accepted the LPSC Staff's recommendations, and the rate reduction was effective with the first billing cycle of May 2012.  Related to the annual gas rate stabilization plan proceedings, the LPSC directed its staff to initiate an evaluation of the 10.5% allowed return on common equity for the Entergy Gulf States Louisiana gas rate stabilization plan.  The LPSC directed that its staff should provide an analysis of the current return on equity and justification for any proposed changes to the return on equity.  In August 2012 the LPSC staff filed direct testimony recommending a midpoint return on equity of 9.3%.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed responsive testimony recommending that the 10.5% return on equity remain unchanged.  The hearing in this proceeding is currently scheduled for November 8-9, 2012.

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected an 11.94% earned return on common equity, which is above the earnings bandwidth and would indicate a $6.5 million cost of service rate change was necessary under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected a $22.9 million rate decrease for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in August 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 11.86% indicating a $5.7 million cost of service rate decrease is necessary under the formula rate plan.  The revised filing also indicates that a reduction of $20.3 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate reductions were implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change reduced Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's revenues by approximately $2.2 million in the third quarter 2012.

 

(Entergy Louisiana)

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected a 9.63% earned return on common equity, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no cost of service rate change under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected an $18.1 million rate increase for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in June 2012, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the filing to estimate at $101 million the first-year revenue requirement associated with the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project when it is placed into service.  In August 2012, Entergy Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 10.38%, which is still within the earnings bandwidth, resulting in no cost of service rate change.  The revised filing also indicates that an increase of $15.9 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate change was implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change contributed approximately $1.3 million to Entergy Louisiana's revenues in the third quarter 2012.

 

Filings with the MPSC

 

            In March 2012, Entergy Mississippi submitted its formula rate plan filing for the 2011 test year.  The filing shows an earned return on common equity of 10.92% for the test year, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no change in rates.  The filing is currently subject to MPSC review.

 


Filings with the City Council

 

            In May 2012, Entergy New Orleans filed its electric and gas formula rate plan evaluation reports for the 2011 test year.  Subsequent adjustments agreed upon with the City Council Advisors indicate a $4.9 million electric base revenue increase and a $0.05 million gas base revenue increase as necessary under the formula rate plan.  As part of the original filing, Entergy New Orleans is also requesting to increase annual funding for its storm reserve by approximately $5.7 million for the next five years.  On September 26, 2012, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council that implemented the $4.9 million electric formula rate plan rate increase and the $0.05 million gas formula rate plan rate increase.  The new rates were effective with the first billing cycle in October 2012.  In October 2012 the City Council approved a procedural schedule to resolve disputed items that includes a hearing in April 2013.  The rates implemented in October 2012 are subject to retroactive adjustments depending on the outcome of the proceeding.  The City Council has not yet acted on Entergy New Orleans's request for an increase in storm reserve funding.

 

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the rate case that Entergy Texas filed in November 2011 requesting a $112 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.6% return on common equity based on an adjusted June 2011 test year. In April 2012 the PUCT Staff filed direct testimony recommending a base rate increase of $66 million and a 9.6% return on common equity.  The PUCT Staff, however, subsequently filed a statement of position in the proceeding indicating that it was still evaluating the position it would ultimately take in the case regarding Entergy Texas's recovery of purchased power capacity costs and Entergy Texas's proposal to defer its MISO transition expenses.  In April 2012, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony indicating a revised request for a $105 million base rate increase.  A hearing was held in late-April through early-May 2012.  During the hearing and in its post-hearing brief the PUCT Staff revised its recommendation to a base rate increase of $27 million.

 

In September 2012 the PUCT issued an order approving a $28 million rate increase, effective July 2012.  The order includes a finding that "a return on common equity (ROE) of 9.80 percent will allow [Entergy Texas] a reasonable opportunity to earn a reasonable return on invested capital."  The order also provides for increases in depreciation rates and the annual storm reserve accrual.  The order also reduced Entergy Texas's proposed purchased power capacity costs, stating that they are not known and measureable; reduced Entergy Texas's regulatory assets associated with Hurricane Rita; excluded from rate recovery capitalized financially-based incentive compensation; included $1.6 million of MISO transition expense in base rates, and reduced Entergy's Texas's fuel reconciliation recovery by $4.0 million because it disagreed with  the line-loss factor used in the calculation.  After considering the progress of the proceeding in light of the PUCT order, Entergy Texas recorded in the third quarter 2012 an approximate $24 million charge to recognize that assets associated with Hurricane Rita, financially-based incentive compensation, and fuel recovery are no longer probable of recovery.  Entergy Texas continues to believe that it is entitled to recover these prudently incurred costs, however, and it filed a motion for rehearing regarding these and several other issues in the PUCT's order on October 4, 2012.  Several other parties have also filed motions for rehearing of the PUCT's order.  The PUCT subsequently denied rehearing of substantive issues.

 

System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC's October 2011 order, Entergy's December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order, and Entergy Arkansas's February 2012 filing for an interim adjustment to its production cost allocation rider requesting that the $156 million payment be collected from customers over the 22-month period from March 2012 through December 2013.  In March 2012 the APSC issued an order stating that the payment can be recovered from retail customers through the production cost allocation rider, subject to refund.  The LPSC and the APSC have requested rehearing of the FERC's October 2011 order.  The APSC, the LPSC, the PUCT, and other parties intervened in the December 2011 compliance filing proceeding, and the APSC and the LPSC also filed protests.

 


            On May 7, 2012, the FERC issued orders in several System Agreement proceedings, including an order on rehearing in the 2007 rate filing based on 2006 production costs proceeding, an order on the ALJ's initial decision in the 2009 rate filing based on 2008 production costs proceeding, and orders in other proceedings regarding the method of calculating the production costs used in the determination of the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts.  The May 7, 2012 FERC orders may result in the reallocation of costs among the Utility operating companies, although there are still FERC decisions pending in other System Agreement proceedings that could affect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts, including for the 2007 rate filing.  The FERC directed Entergy, within 45 days of the issuance of a pending FERC order on rehearing regarding the functionalization of costs in the 2007 rate filing, to file a comprehensive bandwidth recalculation report showing updated payments and receipts in the 2007 rate filing proceeding.  In the order in the 2007 rate filing proceeding, the FERC also denied Entergy's request for rehearing regarding the AmerenUE contract and ordered Entergy Arkansas to refund to AmerenUE the rough production cost equalization payments collected from AmerenUE.  Under the terms of the FERC's order the refund of $30.6 million, including interest, was made in June 2012.  Entergy Arkansas had previously recorded a regulatory provision for the potential refund to AmerenUE.  Entergy has appealed the FERC's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

 

2012 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2011 Production Costs

 

            In May 2012, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2012 rates in accordance with the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding.  The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2012, based on calendar year 2011 production costs, commencing for service in June 2012, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

 

 

 

 Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

$41

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

$-

Entergy Louisiana

($41)

Entergy Mississippi

$-

Entergy New Orleans

$-

Entergy Texas

$-

 

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the LPSC, which filed a protest as well. In August 2012, the FERC accepted Entergy's proposed rates for filing, effective June 2012, subject to refund, set the proceeding for hearing procedures, and then held those procedures in abeyance pending FERC decisions in prior production cost proceedings currently before the FERC on review.

 

Interruptible Load Proceeding

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceeding regarding the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  Entergy Arkansas filed an application in November 2010 with the APSC for recovery of the refund that it paid.  The APSC denied Entergy Arkansas's application, and also denied Entergy Arkansas's petition for rehearing.  If the FERC were to order Entergy Arkansas to pay refunds on rehearing in the interruptible load proceeding the APSC's decision would trap FERC-approved costs at Entergy Arkansas with no regulatory-approved mechanism to recover them.  In August 2011, Entergy Arkansas filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas asking for a declaratory judgment that the rejection of Entergy Arkansas's application by the APSC is preempted by the Federal Power Act.  The APSC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.  In April 2012 the United States district court dismissed Entergy Arkansas's complaint without prejudice stating that Entergy Arkansas's claim is not ripe for adjudication and that Entergy Arkansas did not have standing to bring suit at this time.

 

Entergy Arkansas Opportunity Sales Proceeding

 

            In June 2009, the LPSC filed a complaint requesting that the FERC determine that certain of Entergy Arkansas's sales of electric energy to third parties: (a) violated the provisions of the System Agreement that allocate the energy generated by Entergy System resources, (b) imprudently denied the Entergy System and its ultimate consumers the benefits of low-cost Entergy System generating capacity, and (c) violated the provision of the System Agreement that prohibits sales to third parties by individual companies absent an offer of a right-of-first-refusal to other Utility operating companies.   The LPSC's complaint challenged sales made beginning in 2002 and requested refunds.  In their response to the complaint, the Utility operating companies explained that the System Agreement clearly contemplates that the Utility operating companies may make sales to third parties for their own account, subject to the requirement that those sales be included in the load (or load shape) for the applicable Utility operating company.  The response further explained that the FERC already has determined that Entergy Arkansas's short-term wholesale sales did not trigger the "right-of-first-refusal" provision of the System Agreement.  In addition the response argued that while the D.C. Circuit had determined that the "right-of-first-refusal" issue was not properly before the FERC at the time of its earlier decision on the issue, the LPSC raised no additional claims or facts that would warrant the FERC reaching a different conclusion.

 

            In December 2010 the ALJ issued an initial decision.  The ALJ found that the System Agreement allowed for Entergy Arkansas to make the sales to third parties but concluded that the sales should be accounted for in the same manner as joint account sales.  The ALJ concluded that "shareholders" should make refunds of the damages to the Utility operating companies, along with interest.  Entergy disagreed with several aspects of the ALJ's initial decision and in January 2011 filed with the FERC exceptions to the decision.

 

            The FERC issued a decision in June 2012 and held that, while the System Agreement is ambiguous, it does provide authority for individual Utility operating companies to make opportunity sales for their own account and Entergy Arkansas made and priced these sales in good faith.  The FERC found, however, that the System Agreement does not provide authority for an individual Utility operating company to allocate the energy associated with such opportunity sales as part of its load, but provides a different allocation authority.  The FERC further found that the after-the-fact accounting methodology used to allocate the energy used to supply the sales was inconsistent with the System Agreement.  Quantifying the effect of the FERC's decision will require re-running intra-system bills for a ten-year period, and the FERC in its decision established further hearing procedures to determine the calculation of the effects.

 

                      As required by the procedural schedule established in the calculation proceeding, Entergy filed its direct testimony that included a proposed illustrative re-run, consistent with the directives in FERC's order, of intra-system bills for 2003, 2004, and 2006, the three years with the highest volume of opportunity sales. Entergy's proposed illustrative re-run of intra-system bills shows that the potential cost for Entergy Arkansas would be up to $12 million for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the potential benefit would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies. Entergy's proposed illustrative rerun of the intra-system bills also shows an offsetting potential benefit to Entergy Arkansas for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006 resulting from the effects of the FERC's order on System Agreement Service Schedules MSS-1, MSS-2, and MSS-3, and the potential offsetting cost would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies.  The LPSC had previously filed direct testimony in the proceeding alleging that over the period 2000 - 2009 the sales caused harm to the Utility operating companies' customers of $144 million. In subsequent testimony, however, the LPSC modified its original damages claim in favor of quantifying damages by re-running intra-system bills. Entergy provided to the LPSC an illustrative intra-system bill recalculation as specified by the LPSC for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the LPSC's answering testimony is due in December 2012. The FERC staff's and intervenors' direct and answering testimony is due in February 2013, a hearing is scheduled for May 2013, and the ALJ's initial decision on the calculation of the effects is due by August 28, 2013.

           

                       On July 23, 2012, Entergy and the LPSC filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's June 2012 decision, which are pending with the FERC.

 


Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Act 55 financing of its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs. In February 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana sold 500,000 of its Class A preferred membership units in Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a wholly-owned Entergy subsidiary, to a third party in exchange for $51 million plus accrued but unpaid distributions on the units. The 500,000 preferred membership units are mandatorily redeemable in January 2112.

 

New Nuclear Generation Development Costs (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

 

            Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana are developing a project option for new nuclear generation at River Bend.  In March 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC seeking approval to continue the limited development activities necessary to preserve an option to construct a new unit at River Bend.  The testimony and legal briefs of the LPSC staff generally support the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana, although other parties filed briefs, without supporting testimony, in opposition to the request.  At an evidentiary hearing in October 2011, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the LPSC staff presented testimony in support of certification of activities to preserve an option for a new nuclear plant at River Bend.  The ALJ recommended, however, that the LPSC decline the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana on the basis that the LPSC's rule on new nuclear development does not apply to activities to preserve an option to develop and on the further grounds that the companies improperly engaged in advanced preparation activities prior to certification.  There has been no suggestion that the planning activities or costs incurred were imprudent.  At its June 28, 2012 meeting the LPSC voted to uphold the ALJ's decision and directed that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana be permitted to seek recovery of these costs in the rate case filings that are anticipated in January 2013, fully reserving the LPSC's right to determine the recoverability of such costs in rates.  On September 10, 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a petition for appeal and judicial review of the LPSC's order with the Louisiana Nineteenth Judicial District Court.  A schedule for the appeal has not been established.

 

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

 

            In August 2003, a lawsuit was filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present.  The named defendants include Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, Entergy Power, Entergy Power Marketing Corp., and Entergy Arkansas.  Entergy Gulf States, Inc. was not a named defendant, but was alleged to be a co-conspirator.  The court granted the request of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. to intervene in the lawsuit to protect its interests.

 

            Plaintiffs allege that the defendants implemented a "price gouging accounting scheme" to sell to plaintiffs and similarly situated utility customers higher priced power generated by the defendants while rejecting less expensive power offered from off-system suppliers.  In particular, plaintiffs allege that the defendants manipulated and continue to manipulate the dispatch of generation so that power is purchased from affiliated expensive resources instead of buying cheaper off-system power.

 

            Plaintiffs stated in their pleadings that customers in Texas were charged at least $57 million above prevailing market prices for power.  Plaintiffs seek actual, consequential and exemplary damages, costs and attorneys' fees, and disgorgement of profits.  The plaintiffs' experts have tendered a report calculating damages in a large range, from $153 million to $972 million in present value, under various scenarios.  The Entergy defendants have tendered expert reports challenging the assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions of the plaintiffs' expert reports.

 

           


The case is pending in state district court, and in March 2012 the court found that the case met the requirements to be maintained as a class action under Texas law. On April 30, 2012, the court entered an order certifying the class. The defendants have appealed the order to the Texas Court of Appeals – First District. The appeal is pending and proceedings in district court are stayed until the appeal is resolved.

 

Entergy Louisiana [Member]
 
Rate And Regulatory Matters

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

 

Regulatory Assets

 

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

 

Correction of Regulatory Asset for Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana determined that its regulatory asset for income taxes was overstated because of a difference between the regulatory treatment of the income taxes associated with certain items (primarily pension expense) and the financial accounting treatment of those taxes. Beginning with Louisiana retail rate filings using the 1994 test year, retail rates were developed using the normalization method of accounting for income taxes. With respect to these items, however, the financial accounting for income taxes was computed using the flow-through method of accounting. As a result, over the years Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accumulated a regulatory asset representing the expected future recovery of tax expense for the affected items even though the tax expense was being collected currently in rates from customers and would not be recovered in the future.

 

The effect was immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy for all prior reporting periods and on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a cumulative adjustment was recorded in the first quarter 2012 to remove the regulatory asset previously recorded. This adjustment increased 2012 income tax expense by $46.3 million, decreased the regulatory asset for income taxes by $75.3 million, and decreased accumulated deferred income taxes by $29 million.

 

            The effect was also immaterial to the balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for all prior reporting periods.  Correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the first quarter 2012 could have been material to the 2012 results of operations of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and, therefore, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is revising its prior period financial statements to correct the errors.  The corrections affect the prior period financial statements as shown in the tables below:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$38,429 

 

$37,205 

Net income

$51,946 

 

$53,170 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$51,740 

 

$52,964 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$95,352 

 

$92,083 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$146,309 

 

$149,578 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

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


($21,223)

 


($24,492)

Changes in other regulatory assets

$27,171 

 

$21,858  

Other operating activities

$1,814 

 

$7,127  

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

Regulatory asset for income taxes - net

$249,058 

 

$173,724 

Accumulated deferred income taxes - current

$5,427 

 

$5,107 

Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued

$1,397,230 

 

$1,368,563 

Member's equity

$1,439,733 

 

$1,393,386 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

Member's Equity

 

Total Equity

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

$1,539,517

 

$1,494,593

 

$1,509,213

 

$1,464,289

Net income

$146,928

 

$150,197

 

$146,928

 

$150,197

Balance at September 30, 2011

$1,403,857

 

$1,362,202

 

$1,375,268

 

$1,333,613

 

Hurricane Isaac

 

            In August 2012, Hurricane Isaac caused extensive damage to portions of Entergy's service area in Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Arkansas.  The storm resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages.  Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities in areas with damage from Hurricane Isaac are currently estimated to be in the range of $400 million to $500 million, as follows:


 

 

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Isaac, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; securitization or other alternative financing; and traditional retail recovery on an interim and permanent basis. Each Utility operating company is responsible for its restoration cost obligations and for recovering or financing its storm-related costs. Storm cost recovery or financing may be subject to review by applicable regulatory authorities.

 

            Entergy has recorded accounts payable for the estimated costs incurred that were necessary to return customers to service.  Entergy recorded corresponding regulatory assets of approximately $130 million and construction work in progress of approximately $270 million.  Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service area because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable.  Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

 

Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery

 

Entergy Texas

 

            In December 2011, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $43 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through October 2011.  Entergy Texas and the parties to the proceeding reached an agreement that Entergy Texas would refund $67 million, including interest and additional over-recoveries through December 2011, over a three-month period.  Entergy Texas and the parties requested that interim rates consistent with the settlement be approved effective with the March 2012 billing month, and the PUCT approved the application in March 2012.  Entergy Texas completed this refund to customers in May 2012.

 

            In October 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $78 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through September 2012.  Entergy Texas requested that the refund be implemented over a six-month period effective with the January 2013 billing month.

 

            In July 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application to credit its customers approximately $37.5 million, including interest, resulting from the FERC's October 2011 order in the System Agreement rough production cost equalization proceeding.  See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's October 2011 order.  In September 2012 the parties submitted a stipulation resolving the proceeding.  The stipulation provides that Entergy Texas customers will be credited over a four-month period beginning October 2012.  The credits were initiated with the October 2012 billing month on an interim basis, and the PUCT subsequently approved the stipulation, also in October 2012.

 


Retail Rate Proceedings

 

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

 

Filings with the LPSC

 

(Entergy Gulf States Louisiana)

 

            In January 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2011.  The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 10.48%, which is within the earnings bandwidth of 10.5%, plus or minus fifty basis points.  In April 2012, the LPSC Staff filed its findings, suggesting adjustments that produced an 11.54% earned return on common equity for the test year and a $0.1 million rate reduction.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accepted the LPSC Staff's recommendations, and the rate reduction was effective with the first billing cycle of May 2012.  Related to the annual gas rate stabilization plan proceedings, the LPSC directed its staff to initiate an evaluation of the 10.5% allowed return on common equity for the Entergy Gulf States Louisiana gas rate stabilization plan.  The LPSC directed that its staff should provide an analysis of the current return on equity and justification for any proposed changes to the return on equity.  In August 2012 the LPSC staff filed direct testimony recommending a midpoint return on equity of 9.3%.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed responsive testimony recommending that the 10.5% return on equity remain unchanged.  The hearing in this proceeding is currently scheduled for November 8-9, 2012.

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected an 11.94% earned return on common equity, which is above the earnings bandwidth and would indicate a $6.5 million cost of service rate change was necessary under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected a $22.9 million rate decrease for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in August 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 11.86% indicating a $5.7 million cost of service rate decrease is necessary under the formula rate plan.  The revised filing also indicates that a reduction of $20.3 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate reductions were implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change reduced Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's revenues by approximately $2.2 million in the third quarter 2012.

 

(Entergy Louisiana)

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected a 9.63% earned return on common equity, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no cost of service rate change under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected an $18.1 million rate increase for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in June 2012, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the filing to estimate at $101 million the first-year revenue requirement associated with the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project when it is placed into service.  In August 2012, Entergy Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 10.38%, which is still within the earnings bandwidth, resulting in no cost of service rate change.  The revised filing also indicates that an increase of $15.9 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate change was implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change contributed approximately $1.3 million to Entergy Louisiana's revenues in the third quarter 2012.

 

Filings with the MPSC

 

            In March 2012, Entergy Mississippi submitted its formula rate plan filing for the 2011 test year.  The filing shows an earned return on common equity of 10.92% for the test year, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no change in rates.  The filing is currently subject to MPSC review.

 


Filings with the City Council

 

            In May 2012, Entergy New Orleans filed its electric and gas formula rate plan evaluation reports for the 2011 test year.  Subsequent adjustments agreed upon with the City Council Advisors indicate a $4.9 million electric base revenue increase and a $0.05 million gas base revenue increase as necessary under the formula rate plan.  As part of the original filing, Entergy New Orleans is also requesting to increase annual funding for its storm reserve by approximately $5.7 million for the next five years.  On September 26, 2012, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council that implemented the $4.9 million electric formula rate plan rate increase and the $0.05 million gas formula rate plan rate increase.  The new rates were effective with the first billing cycle in October 2012.  In October 2012 the City Council approved a procedural schedule to resolve disputed items that includes a hearing in April 2013.  The rates implemented in October 2012 are subject to retroactive adjustments depending on the outcome of the proceeding.  The City Council has not yet acted on Entergy New Orleans's request for an increase in storm reserve funding.

 

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the rate case that Entergy Texas filed in November 2011 requesting a $112 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.6% return on common equity based on an adjusted June 2011 test year. In April 2012 the PUCT Staff filed direct testimony recommending a base rate increase of $66 million and a 9.6% return on common equity.  The PUCT Staff, however, subsequently filed a statement of position in the proceeding indicating that it was still evaluating the position it would ultimately take in the case regarding Entergy Texas's recovery of purchased power capacity costs and Entergy Texas's proposal to defer its MISO transition expenses.  In April 2012, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony indicating a revised request for a $105 million base rate increase.  A hearing was held in late-April through early-May 2012.  During the hearing and in its post-hearing brief the PUCT Staff revised its recommendation to a base rate increase of $27 million.

 

In September 2012 the PUCT issued an order approving a $28 million rate increase, effective July 2012.  The order includes a finding that "a return on common equity (ROE) of 9.80 percent will allow [Entergy Texas] a reasonable opportunity to earn a reasonable return on invested capital."  The order also provides for increases in depreciation rates and the annual storm reserve accrual.  The order also reduced Entergy Texas's proposed purchased power capacity costs, stating that they are not known and measureable; reduced Entergy Texas's regulatory assets associated with Hurricane Rita; excluded from rate recovery capitalized financially-based incentive compensation; included $1.6 million of MISO transition expense in base rates, and reduced Entergy's Texas's fuel reconciliation recovery by $4.0 million because it disagreed with  the line-loss factor used in the calculation.  After considering the progress of the proceeding in light of the PUCT order, Entergy Texas recorded in the third quarter 2012 an approximate $24 million charge to recognize that assets associated with Hurricane Rita, financially-based incentive compensation, and fuel recovery are no longer probable of recovery.  Entergy Texas continues to believe that it is entitled to recover these prudently incurred costs, however, and it filed a motion for rehearing regarding these and several other issues in the PUCT's order on October 4, 2012.  Several other parties have also filed motions for rehearing of the PUCT's order.  The PUCT subsequently denied rehearing of substantive issues.

 

System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC's October 2011 order, Entergy's December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order, and Entergy Arkansas's February 2012 filing for an interim adjustment to its production cost allocation rider requesting that the $156 million payment be collected from customers over the 22-month period from March 2012 through December 2013.  In March 2012 the APSC issued an order stating that the payment can be recovered from retail customers through the production cost allocation rider, subject to refund.  The LPSC and the APSC have requested rehearing of the FERC's October 2011 order.  The APSC, the LPSC, the PUCT, and other parties intervened in the December 2011 compliance filing proceeding, and the APSC and the LPSC also filed protests.

 


            On May 7, 2012, the FERC issued orders in several System Agreement proceedings, including an order on rehearing in the 2007 rate filing based on 2006 production costs proceeding, an order on the ALJ's initial decision in the 2009 rate filing based on 2008 production costs proceeding, and orders in other proceedings regarding the method of calculating the production costs used in the determination of the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts.  The May 7, 2012 FERC orders may result in the reallocation of costs among the Utility operating companies, although there are still FERC decisions pending in other System Agreement proceedings that could affect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts, including for the 2007 rate filing.  The FERC directed Entergy, within 45 days of the issuance of a pending FERC order on rehearing regarding the functionalization of costs in the 2007 rate filing, to file a comprehensive bandwidth recalculation report showing updated payments and receipts in the 2007 rate filing proceeding.  In the order in the 2007 rate filing proceeding, the FERC also denied Entergy's request for rehearing regarding the AmerenUE contract and ordered Entergy Arkansas to refund to AmerenUE the rough production cost equalization payments collected from AmerenUE.  Under the terms of the FERC's order the refund of $30.6 million, including interest, was made in June 2012.  Entergy Arkansas had previously recorded a regulatory provision for the potential refund to AmerenUE.  Entergy has appealed the FERC's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

 

2012 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2011 Production Costs

 

            In May 2012, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2012 rates in accordance with the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding.  The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2012, based on calendar year 2011 production costs, commencing for service in June 2012, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

 

 

 

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the LPSC, which filed a protest as well. In August 2012, the FERC accepted Entergy's proposed rates for filing, effective June 2012, subject to refund, set the proceeding for hearing procedures, and then held those procedures in abeyance pending FERC decisions in prior production cost proceedings currently before the FERC on review.

 

Interruptible Load Proceeding

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceeding regarding the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  Entergy Arkansas filed an application in November 2010 with the APSC for recovery of the refund that it paid.  The APSC denied Entergy Arkansas's application, and also denied Entergy Arkansas's petition for rehearing.  If the FERC were to order Entergy Arkansas to pay refunds on rehearing in the interruptible load proceeding the APSC's decision would trap FERC-approved costs at Entergy Arkansas with no regulatory-approved mechanism to recover them.  In August 2011, Entergy Arkansas filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas asking for a declaratory judgment that the rejection of Entergy Arkansas's application by the APSC is preempted by the Federal Power Act.  The APSC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.  In April 2012 the United States district court dismissed Entergy Arkansas's complaint without prejudice stating that Entergy Arkansas's claim is not ripe for adjudication and that Entergy Arkansas did not have standing to bring suit at this time.

 

Entergy Arkansas Opportunity Sales Proceeding

 

            In June 2009, the LPSC filed a complaint requesting that the FERC determine that certain of Entergy Arkansas's sales of electric energy to third parties: (a) violated the provisions of the System Agreement that allocate the energy generated by Entergy System resources, (b) imprudently denied the Entergy System and its ultimate consumers the benefits of low-cost Entergy System generating capacity, and (c) violated the provision of the System Agreement that prohibits sales to third parties by individual companies absent an offer of a right-of-first-refusal to other Utility operating companies.   The LPSC's complaint challenged sales made beginning in 2002 and requested refunds.  In their response to the complaint, the Utility operating companies explained that the System Agreement clearly contemplates that the Utility operating companies may make sales to third parties for their own account, subject to the requirement that those sales be included in the load (or load shape) for the applicable Utility operating company.  The response further explained that the FERC already has determined that Entergy Arkansas's short-term wholesale sales did not trigger the "right-of-first-refusal" provision of the System Agreement.  In addition the response argued that while the D.C. Circuit had determined that the "right-of-first-refusal" issue was not properly before the FERC at the time of its earlier decision on the issue, the LPSC raised no additional claims or facts that would warrant the FERC reaching a different conclusion.

 

            In December 2010 the ALJ issued an initial decision.  The ALJ found that the System Agreement allowed for Entergy Arkansas to make the sales to third parties but concluded that the sales should be accounted for in the same manner as joint account sales.  The ALJ concluded that "shareholders" should make refunds of the damages to the Utility operating companies, along with interest.  Entergy disagreed with several aspects of the ALJ's initial decision and in January 2011 filed with the FERC exceptions to the decision.

 

            The FERC issued a decision in June 2012 and held that, while the System Agreement is ambiguous, it does provide authority for individual Utility operating companies to make opportunity sales for their own account and Entergy Arkansas made and priced these sales in good faith.  The FERC found, however, that the System Agreement does not provide authority for an individual Utility operating company to allocate the energy associated with such opportunity sales as part of its load, but provides a different allocation authority.  The FERC further found that the after-the-fact accounting methodology used to allocate the energy used to supply the sales was inconsistent with the System Agreement.  Quantifying the effect of the FERC's decision will require re-running intra-system bills for a ten-year period, and the FERC in its decision established further hearing procedures to determine the calculation of the effects.

 

                   As required by the procedural schedule established in the calculation proceeding, Entergy filed its direct testimony that included a proposed illustrative re-run, consistent with the directives in FERC's order, of intra-system bills for 2003, 2004, and 2006, the three years with the highest volume of opportunity sales. Entergy's proposed illustrative re-run of intra-system bills shows that the potential cost for Entergy Arkansas would be up to $12 million for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the potential benefit would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies. Entergy's proposed illustrative rerun of the intra-system bills also shows an offsetting potential benefit to Entergy Arkansas for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006 resulting from the effects of the FERC's order on System Agreement Service Schedules MSS-1, MSS-2, and MSS-3, and the potential offsetting cost would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies.  The LPSC had previously filed direct testimony in the proceeding alleging that over the period 2000 - 2009 the sales caused harm to the Utility operating companies' customers of $144 million. In subsequent testimony, however, the LPSC modified its original damages claim in favor of quantifying damages by re-running intra-system bills. Entergy provided to the LPSC an illustrative intra-system bill recalculation as specified by the LPSC for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the LPSC's answering testimony is due in December 2012. The FERC staff's and intervenors' direct and answering testimony is due in February 2013, a hearing is scheduled for May 2013, and the ALJ's initial decision on the calculation of the effects is due by August 28, 2013.

         

              On July 23, 2012, Entergy and the LPSC filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's June 2012 decision, which are pending with the FERC.

 


Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Act 55 financing of its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs. In February 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana sold 500,000 of its Class A preferred membership units in Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a wholly-owned Entergy subsidiary, to a third party in exchange for $51 million plus accrued but unpaid distributions on the units. The 500,000 preferred membership units are mandatorily redeemable in January 2112.

 

New Nuclear Generation Development Costs (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

 

            Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana are developing a project option for new nuclear generation at River Bend.  In March 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC seeking approval to continue the limited development activities necessary to preserve an option to construct a new unit at River Bend.  The testimony and legal briefs of the LPSC staff generally support the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana, although other parties filed briefs, without supporting testimony, in opposition to the request.  At an evidentiary hearing in October 2011, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the LPSC staff presented testimony in support of certification of activities to preserve an option for a new nuclear plant at River Bend.  The ALJ recommended, however, that the LPSC decline the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana on the basis that the LPSC's rule on new nuclear development does not apply to activities to preserve an option to develop and on the further grounds that the companies improperly engaged in advanced preparation activities prior to certification.  There has been no suggestion that the planning activities or costs incurred were imprudent.  At its June 28, 2012 meeting the LPSC voted to uphold the ALJ's decision and directed that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana be permitted to seek recovery of these costs in the rate case filings that are anticipated in January 2013, fully reserving the LPSC's right to determine the recoverability of such costs in rates.  On September 10, 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a petition for appeal and judicial review of the LPSC's order with the Louisiana Nineteenth Judicial District Court.  A schedule for the appeal has not been established.

 

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

 

            In August 2003, a lawsuit was filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present.  The named defendants include Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, Entergy Power, Entergy Power Marketing Corp., and Entergy Arkansas.  Entergy Gulf States, Inc. was not a named defendant, but was alleged to be a co-conspirator.  The court granted the request of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. to intervene in the lawsuit to protect its interests.

 

            Plaintiffs allege that the defendants implemented a "price gouging accounting scheme" to sell to plaintiffs and similarly situated utility customers higher priced power generated by the defendants while rejecting less expensive power offered from off-system suppliers.  In particular, plaintiffs allege that the defendants manipulated and continue to manipulate the dispatch of generation so that power is purchased from affiliated expensive resources instead of buying cheaper off-system power.

 

            Plaintiffs stated in their pleadings that customers in Texas were charged at least $57 million above prevailing market prices for power.  Plaintiffs seek actual, consequential and exemplary damages, costs and attorneys' fees, and disgorgement of profits.  The plaintiffs' experts have tendered a report calculating damages in a large range, from $153 million to $972 million in present value, under various scenarios.  The Entergy defendants have tendered expert reports challenging the assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions of the plaintiffs' expert reports.

 

           


The case is pending in state district court, and in March 2012 the court found that the case met the requirements to be maintained as a class action under Texas law. On April 30, 2012, the court entered an order certifying the class. The defendants have appealed the order to the Texas Court of Appeals – First District. The appeal is pending and proceedings in district court are stayed until the appeal is resolved.

 

Entergy Mississippi [Member]
 
Rate And Regulatory Matters

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

 

Regulatory Assets

 

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

 

Correction of Regulatory Asset for Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana determined that its regulatory asset for income taxes was overstated because of a difference between the regulatory treatment of the income taxes associated with certain items (primarily pension expense) and the financial accounting treatment of those taxes. Beginning with Louisiana retail rate filings using the 1994 test year, retail rates were developed using the normalization method of accounting for income taxes. With respect to these items, however, the financial accounting for income taxes was computed using the flow-through method of accounting. As a result, over the years Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accumulated a regulatory asset representing the expected future recovery of tax expense for the affected items even though the tax expense was being collected currently in rates from customers and would not be recovered in the future.

 

The effect was immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy for all prior reporting periods and on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a cumulative adjustment was recorded in the first quarter 2012 to remove the regulatory asset previously recorded. This adjustment increased 2012 income tax expense by $46.3 million, decreased the regulatory asset for income taxes by $75.3 million, and decreased accumulated deferred income taxes by $29 million.

 

            The effect was also immaterial to the balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for all prior reporting periods.  Correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the first quarter 2012 could have been material to the 2012 results of operations of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and, therefore, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is revising its prior period financial statements to correct the errors.  The corrections affect the prior period financial statements as shown in the tables below:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$38,429 

 

$37,205 

Net income

$51,946 

 

$53,170 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$51,740 

 

$52,964 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$95,352 

 

$92,083 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$146,309 

 

$149,578 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

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


($21,223)

 


($24,492)

Changes in other regulatory assets

$27,171 

 

$21,858  

Other operating activities

$1,814 

 

$7,127  

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

Regulatory asset for income taxes - net

$249,058 

 

$173,724 

Accumulated deferred income taxes - current

$5,427 

 

$5,107 

Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued

$1,397,230 

 

$1,368,563 

Member's equity

$1,439,733 

 

$1,393,386 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

Member's Equity

 

Total Equity

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

$1,539,517

 

$1,494,593

 

$1,509,213

 

$1,464,289

Net income

$146,928

 

$150,197

 

$146,928

 

$150,197

Balance at September 30, 2011

$1,403,857

 

$1,362,202

 

$1,375,268

 

$1,333,613

 

Hurricane Isaac

 

            In August 2012, Hurricane Isaac caused extensive damage to portions of Entergy's service area in Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Arkansas.  The storm resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages.  Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities in areas with damage from Hurricane Isaac are currently estimated to be in the range of $400 million to $500 million, as follows:


 

 

 

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Isaac, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; securitization or other alternative financing; and traditional retail recovery on an interim and permanent basis. Each Utility operating company is responsible for its restoration cost obligations and for recovering or financing its storm-related costs. Storm cost recovery or financing may be subject to review by applicable regulatory authorities.

 

            Entergy has recorded accounts payable for the estimated costs incurred that were necessary to return customers to service.  Entergy recorded corresponding regulatory assets of approximately $130 million and construction work in progress of approximately $270 million.  Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service area because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable.  Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

 

Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery

 

Entergy Texas

 

            In December 2011, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $43 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through October 2011.  Entergy Texas and the parties to the proceeding reached an agreement that Entergy Texas would refund $67 million, including interest and additional over-recoveries through December 2011, over a three-month period.  Entergy Texas and the parties requested that interim rates consistent with the settlement be approved effective with the March 2012 billing month, and the PUCT approved the application in March 2012.  Entergy Texas completed this refund to customers in May 2012.

 

            In October 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $78 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through September 2012.  Entergy Texas requested that the refund be implemented over a six-month period effective with the January 2013 billing month.

 

            In July 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application to credit its customers approximately $37.5 million, including interest, resulting from the FERC's October 2011 order in the System Agreement rough production cost equalization proceeding.  See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's October 2011 order.  In September 2012 the parties submitted a stipulation resolving the proceeding.  The stipulation provides that Entergy Texas customers will be credited over a four-month period beginning October 2012.  The credits were initiated with the October 2012 billing month on an interim basis, and the PUCT subsequently approved the stipulation, also in October 2012.

 


Retail Rate Proceedings

 

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

 

Filings with the LPSC

 

(Entergy Gulf States Louisiana)

 

            In January 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2011.  The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 10.48%, which is within the earnings bandwidth of 10.5%, plus or minus fifty basis points.  In April 2012, the LPSC Staff filed its findings, suggesting adjustments that produced an 11.54% earned return on common equity for the test year and a $0.1 million rate reduction.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accepted the LPSC Staff's recommendations, and the rate reduction was effective with the first billing cycle of May 2012.  Related to the annual gas rate stabilization plan proceedings, the LPSC directed its staff to initiate an evaluation of the 10.5% allowed return on common equity for the Entergy Gulf States Louisiana gas rate stabilization plan.  The LPSC directed that its staff should provide an analysis of the current return on equity and justification for any proposed changes to the return on equity.  In August 2012 the LPSC staff filed direct testimony recommending a midpoint return on equity of 9.3%.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed responsive testimony recommending that the 10.5% return on equity remain unchanged.  The hearing in this proceeding is currently scheduled for November 8-9, 2012.

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected an 11.94% earned return on common equity, which is above the earnings bandwidth and would indicate a $6.5 million cost of service rate change was necessary under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected a $22.9 million rate decrease for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in August 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 11.86% indicating a $5.7 million cost of service rate decrease is necessary under the formula rate plan.  The revised filing also indicates that a reduction of $20.3 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate reductions were implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change reduced Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's revenues by approximately $2.2 million in the third quarter 2012.

 

(Entergy Louisiana)

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected a 9.63% earned return on common equity, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no cost of service rate change under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected an $18.1 million rate increase for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in June 2012, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the filing to estimate at $101 million the first-year revenue requirement associated with the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project when it is placed into service.  In August 2012, Entergy Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 10.38%, which is still within the earnings bandwidth, resulting in no cost of service rate change.  The revised filing also indicates that an increase of $15.9 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate change was implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change contributed approximately $1.3 million to Entergy Louisiana's revenues in the third quarter 2012.

 

Filings with the MPSC

 

            In March 2012, Entergy Mississippi submitted its formula rate plan filing for the 2011 test year.  The filing shows an earned return on common equity of 10.92% for the test year, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no change in rates.  The filing is currently subject to MPSC review.

 


Filings with the City Council

 

            In May 2012, Entergy New Orleans filed its electric and gas formula rate plan evaluation reports for the 2011 test year.  Subsequent adjustments agreed upon with the City Council Advisors indicate a $4.9 million electric base revenue increase and a $0.05 million gas base revenue increase as necessary under the formula rate plan.  As part of the original filing, Entergy New Orleans is also requesting to increase annual funding for its storm reserve by approximately $5.7 million for the next five years.  On September 26, 2012, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council that implemented the $4.9 million electric formula rate plan rate increase and the $0.05 million gas formula rate plan rate increase.  The new rates were effective with the first billing cycle in October 2012.  In October 2012 the City Council approved a procedural schedule to resolve disputed items that includes a hearing in April 2013.  The rates implemented in October 2012 are subject to retroactive adjustments depending on the outcome of the proceeding.  The City Council has not yet acted on Entergy New Orleans's request for an increase in storm reserve funding.

 

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the rate case that Entergy Texas filed in November 2011 requesting a $112 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.6% return on common equity based on an adjusted June 2011 test year. In April 2012 the PUCT Staff filed direct testimony recommending a base rate increase of $66 million and a 9.6% return on common equity.  The PUCT Staff, however, subsequently filed a statement of position in the proceeding indicating that it was still evaluating the position it would ultimately take in the case regarding Entergy Texas's recovery of purchased power capacity costs and Entergy Texas's proposal to defer its MISO transition expenses.  In April 2012, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony indicating a revised request for a $105 million base rate increase.  A hearing was held in late-April through early-May 2012.  During the hearing and in its post-hearing brief the PUCT Staff revised its recommendation to a base rate increase of $27 million.

 

In September 2012 the PUCT issued an order approving a $28 million rate increase, effective July 2012.  The order includes a finding that "a return on common equity (ROE) of 9.80 percent will allow [Entergy Texas] a reasonable opportunity to earn a reasonable return on invested capital."  The order also provides for increases in depreciation rates and the annual storm reserve accrual.  The order also reduced Entergy Texas's proposed purchased power capacity costs, stating that they are not known and measureable; reduced Entergy Texas's regulatory assets associated with Hurricane Rita; excluded from rate recovery capitalized financially-based incentive compensation; included $1.6 million of MISO transition expense in base rates, and reduced Entergy's Texas's fuel reconciliation recovery by $4.0 million because it disagreed with  the line-loss factor used in the calculation.  After considering the progress of the proceeding in light of the PUCT order, Entergy Texas recorded in the third quarter 2012 an approximate $24 million charge to recognize that assets associated with Hurricane Rita, financially-based incentive compensation, and fuel recovery are no longer probable of recovery.  Entergy Texas continues to believe that it is entitled to recover these prudently incurred costs, however, and it filed a motion for rehearing regarding these and several other issues in the PUCT's order on October 4, 2012.  Several other parties have also filed motions for rehearing of the PUCT's order.  The PUCT subsequently denied rehearing of substantive issues.

 

System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC's October 2011 order, Entergy's December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order, and Entergy Arkansas's February 2012 filing for an interim adjustment to its production cost allocation rider requesting that the $156 million payment be collected from customers over the 22-month period from March 2012 through December 2013.  In March 2012 the APSC issued an order stating that the payment can be recovered from retail customers through the production cost allocation rider, subject to refund.  The LPSC and the APSC have requested rehearing of the FERC's October 2011 order.  The APSC, the LPSC, the PUCT, and other parties intervened in the December 2011 compliance filing proceeding, and the APSC and the LPSC also filed protests.

 


            On May 7, 2012, the FERC issued orders in several System Agreement proceedings, including an order on rehearing in the 2007 rate filing based on 2006 production costs proceeding, an order on the ALJ's initial decision in the 2009 rate filing based on 2008 production costs proceeding, and orders in other proceedings regarding the method of calculating the production costs used in the determination of the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts.  The May 7, 2012 FERC orders may result in the reallocation of costs among the Utility operating companies, although there are still FERC decisions pending in other System Agreement proceedings that could affect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts, including for the 2007 rate filing.  The FERC directed Entergy, within 45 days of the issuance of a pending FERC order on rehearing regarding the functionalization of costs in the 2007 rate filing, to file a comprehensive bandwidth recalculation report showing updated payments and receipts in the 2007 rate filing proceeding.  In the order in the 2007 rate filing proceeding, the FERC also denied Entergy's request for rehearing regarding the AmerenUE contract and ordered Entergy Arkansas to refund to AmerenUE the rough production cost equalization payments collected from AmerenUE.  Under the terms of the FERC's order the refund of $30.6 million, including interest, was made in June 2012.  Entergy Arkansas had previously recorded a regulatory provision for the potential refund to AmerenUE.  Entergy has appealed the FERC's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

 

2012 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2011 Production Costs

 

            In May 2012, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2012 rates in accordance with the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding.  The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2012, based on calendar year 2011 production costs, commencing for service in June 2012, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

 

 

 

 Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

$41

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

$-

Entergy Louisiana

($41)

Entergy Mississippi

$-

Entergy New Orleans

$-

Entergy Texas

$-

 

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the LPSC, which filed a protest as well. In August 2012, the FERC accepted Entergy's proposed rates for filing, effective June 2012, subject to refund, set the proceeding for hearing procedures, and then held those procedures in abeyance pending FERC decisions in prior production cost proceedings currently before the FERC on review.

 

Interruptible Load Proceeding

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceeding regarding the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  Entergy Arkansas filed an application in November 2010 with the APSC for recovery of the refund that it paid.  The APSC denied Entergy Arkansas's application, and also denied Entergy Arkansas's petition for rehearing.  If the FERC were to order Entergy Arkansas to pay refunds on rehearing in the interruptible load proceeding the APSC's decision would trap FERC-approved costs at Entergy Arkansas with no regulatory-approved mechanism to recover them.  In August 2011, Entergy Arkansas filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas asking for a declaratory judgment that the rejection of Entergy Arkansas's application by the APSC is preempted by the Federal Power Act.  The APSC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.  In April 2012 the United States district court dismissed Entergy Arkansas's complaint without prejudice stating that Entergy Arkansas's claim is not ripe for adjudication and that Entergy Arkansas did not have standing to bring suit at this time.

 

Entergy Arkansas Opportunity Sales Proceeding

 

            In June 2009, the LPSC filed a complaint requesting that the FERC determine that certain of Entergy Arkansas's sales of electric energy to third parties: (a) violated the provisions of the System Agreement that allocate the energy generated by Entergy System resources, (b) imprudently denied the Entergy System and its ultimate consumers the benefits of low-cost Entergy System generating capacity, and (c) violated the provision of the System Agreement that prohibits sales to third parties by individual companies absent an offer of a right-of-first-refusal to other Utility operating companies.   The LPSC's complaint challenged sales made beginning in 2002 and requested refunds.  In their response to the complaint, the Utility operating companies explained that the System Agreement clearly contemplates that the Utility operating companies may make sales to third parties for their own account, subject to the requirement that those sales be included in the load (or load shape) for the applicable Utility operating company.  The response further explained that the FERC already has determined that Entergy Arkansas's short-term wholesale sales did not trigger the "right-of-first-refusal" provision of the System Agreement.  In addition the response argued that while the D.C. Circuit had determined that the "right-of-first-refusal" issue was not properly before the FERC at the time of its earlier decision on the issue, the LPSC raised no additional claims or facts that would warrant the FERC reaching a different conclusion.

 

            In December 2010 the ALJ issued an initial decision.  The ALJ found that the System Agreement allowed for Entergy Arkansas to make the sales to third parties but concluded that the sales should be accounted for in the same manner as joint account sales.  The ALJ concluded that "shareholders" should make refunds of the damages to the Utility operating companies, along with interest.  Entergy disagreed with several aspects of the ALJ's initial decision and in January 2011 filed with the FERC exceptions to the decision.

 

            The FERC issued a decision in June 2012 and held that, while the System Agreement is ambiguous, it does provide authority for individual Utility operating companies to make opportunity sales for their own account and Entergy Arkansas made and priced these sales in good faith.  The FERC found, however, that the System Agreement does not provide authority for an individual Utility operating company to allocate the energy associated with such opportunity sales as part of its load, but provides a different allocation authority.  The FERC further found that the after-the-fact accounting methodology used to allocate the energy used to supply the sales was inconsistent with the System Agreement.  Quantifying the effect of the FERC's decision will require re-running intra-system bills for a ten-year period, and the FERC in its decision established further hearing procedures to determine the calculation of the effects.

 

                    As required by the procedural schedule established in the calculation proceeding, Entergy filed its direct testimony that included a proposed illustrative re-run, consistent with the directives in FERC's order, of intra-system bills for 2003, 2004, and 2006, the three years with the highest volume of opportunity sales. Entergy's proposed illustrative re-run of intra-system bills shows that the potential cost for Entergy Arkansas would be up to $12 million for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the potential benefit would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies. Entergy's proposed illustrative rerun of the intra-system bills also shows an offsetting potential benefit to Entergy Arkansas for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006 resulting from the effects of the FERC's order on System Agreement Service Schedules MSS-1, MSS-2, and MSS-3, and the potential offsetting cost would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies.  The LPSC had previously filed direct testimony in the proceeding alleging that over the period 2000 - 2009 the sales caused harm to the Utility operating companies' customers of $144 million. In subsequent testimony, however, the LPSC modified its original damages claim in favor of quantifying damages by re-running intra-system bills. Entergy provided to the LPSC an illustrative intra-system bill recalculation as specified by the LPSC for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the LPSC's answering testimony is due in December 2012. The FERC staff's and intervenors' direct and answering testimony is due in February 2013, a hearing is scheduled for May 2013, and the ALJ's initial decision on the calculation of the effects is due by August 28, 2013.

           

                      On July 23, 2012, Entergy and the LPSC filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's June 2012 decision, which are pending with the FERC.

 


Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Act 55 financing of its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs. In February 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana sold 500,000 of its Class A preferred membership units in Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a wholly-owned Entergy subsidiary, to a third party in exchange for $51 million plus accrued but unpaid distributions on the units. The 500,000 preferred membership units are mandatorily redeemable in January 2112.

 

New Nuclear Generation Development Costs (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

 

            Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana are developing a project option for new nuclear generation at River Bend.  In March 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC seeking approval to continue the limited development activities necessary to preserve an option to construct a new unit at River Bend.  The testimony and legal briefs of the LPSC staff generally support the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana, although other parties filed briefs, without supporting testimony, in opposition to the request.  At an evidentiary hearing in October 2011, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the LPSC staff presented testimony in support of certification of activities to preserve an option for a new nuclear plant at River Bend.  The ALJ recommended, however, that the LPSC decline the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana on the basis that the LPSC's rule on new nuclear development does not apply to activities to preserve an option to develop and on the further grounds that the companies improperly engaged in advanced preparation activities prior to certification.  There has been no suggestion that the planning activities or costs incurred were imprudent.  At its June 28, 2012 meeting the LPSC voted to uphold the ALJ's decision and directed that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana be permitted to seek recovery of these costs in the rate case filings that are anticipated in January 2013, fully reserving the LPSC's right to determine the recoverability of such costs in rates.  On September 10, 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a petition for appeal and judicial review of the LPSC's order with the Louisiana Nineteenth Judicial District Court.  A schedule for the appeal has not been established.

 

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

 

            In August 2003, a lawsuit was filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present.  The named defendants include Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, Entergy Power, Entergy Power Marketing Corp., and Entergy Arkansas.  Entergy Gulf States, Inc. was not a named defendant, but was alleged to be a co-conspirator.  The court granted the request of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. to intervene in the lawsuit to protect its interests.

 

            Plaintiffs allege that the defendants implemented a "price gouging accounting scheme" to sell to plaintiffs and similarly situated utility customers higher priced power generated by the defendants while rejecting less expensive power offered from off-system suppliers.  In particular, plaintiffs allege that the defendants manipulated and continue to manipulate the dispatch of generation so that power is purchased from affiliated expensive resources instead of buying cheaper off-system power.

 

            Plaintiffs stated in their pleadings that customers in Texas were charged at least $57 million above prevailing market prices for power.  Plaintiffs seek actual, consequential and exemplary damages, costs and attorneys' fees, and disgorgement of profits.  The plaintiffs' experts have tendered a report calculating damages in a large range, from $153 million to $972 million in present value, under various scenarios.  The Entergy defendants have tendered expert reports challenging the assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions of the plaintiffs' expert reports.

 

           


The case is pending in state district court, and in March 2012 the court found that the case met the requirements to be maintained as a class action under Texas law. On April 30, 2012, the court entered an order certifying the class. The defendants have appealed the order to the Texas Court of Appeals – First District. The appeal is pending and proceedings in district court are stayed until the appeal is resolved.

 

Entergy New Orleans
 
Rate And Regulatory Matters

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

 

Regulatory Assets

 

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

 

Correction of Regulatory Asset for Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana determined that its regulatory asset for income taxes was overstated because of a difference between the regulatory treatment of the income taxes associated with certain items (primarily pension expense) and the financial accounting treatment of those taxes. Beginning with Louisiana retail rate filings using the 1994 test year, retail rates were developed using the normalization method of accounting for income taxes. With respect to these items, however, the financial accounting for income taxes was computed using the flow-through method of accounting. As a result, over the years Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accumulated a regulatory asset representing the expected future recovery of tax expense for the affected items even though the tax expense was being collected currently in rates from customers and would not be recovered in the future.

 

The effect was immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy for all prior reporting periods and on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a cumulative adjustment was recorded in the first quarter 2012 to remove the regulatory asset previously recorded. This adjustment increased 2012 income tax expense by $46.3 million, decreased the regulatory asset for income taxes by $75.3 million, and decreased accumulated deferred income taxes by $29 million.

 

            The effect was also immaterial to the balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for all prior reporting periods.  Correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the first quarter 2012 could have been material to the 2012 results of operations of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and, therefore, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is revising its prior period financial statements to correct the errors.  The corrections affect the prior period financial statements as shown in the tables below:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$38,429 

 

$37,205 

Net income

$51,946 

 

$53,170 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$51,740 

 

$52,964 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$95,352 

 

$92,083 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$146,309 

 

$149,578 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

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


($21,223)

 


($24,492)

Changes in other regulatory assets

$27,171 

 

$21,858  

Other operating activities

$1,814 

 

$7,127  

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

Regulatory asset for income taxes - net

$249,058 

 

$173,724 

Accumulated deferred income taxes - current

$5,427 

 

$5,107 

Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued

$1,397,230 

 

$1,368,563 

Member's equity

$1,439,733 

 

$1,393,386 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

Member's Equity

 

Total Equity

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

$1,539,517

 

$1,494,593

 

$1,509,213

 

$1,464,289

Net income

$146,928

 

$150,197

 

$146,928

 

$150,197

Balance at September 30, 2011

$1,403,857

 

$1,362,202

 

$1,375,268

 

$1,333,613

 

Hurricane Isaac

 

            In August 2012, Hurricane Isaac caused extensive damage to portions of Entergy's service area in Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Arkansas.  The storm resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages.  Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities in areas with damage from Hurricane Isaac are currently estimated to be in the range of $400 million to $500 million, as follows:


 

 


Company

 

Hurricane Isaac
Restoration Costs

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

$10

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

70-90

Entergy Louisiana

 

240-300

Entergy Mississippi

 

30-40

Entergy New Orleans

 

50-60

Total

 

$400-500

 

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Isaac, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; securitization or other alternative financing; and traditional retail recovery on an interim and permanent basis. Each Utility operating company is responsible for its restoration cost obligations and for recovering or financing its storm-related costs. Storm cost recovery or financing may be subject to review by applicable regulatory authorities.

 

            Entergy has recorded accounts payable for the estimated costs incurred that were necessary to return customers to service.  Entergy recorded corresponding regulatory assets of approximately $130 million and construction work in progress of approximately $270 million.  Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service area because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable.  Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

 

Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery

 

Entergy Texas

 

            In December 2011, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $43 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through October 2011.  Entergy Texas and the parties to the proceeding reached an agreement that Entergy Texas would refund $67 million, including interest and additional over-recoveries through December 2011, over a three-month period.  Entergy Texas and the parties requested that interim rates consistent with the settlement be approved effective with the March 2012 billing month, and the PUCT approved the application in March 2012.  Entergy Texas completed this refund to customers in May 2012.

 

            In October 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $78 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through September 2012.  Entergy Texas requested that the refund be implemented over a six-month period effective with the January 2013 billing month.

 

            In July 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application to credit its customers approximately $37.5 million, including interest, resulting from the FERC's October 2011 order in the System Agreement rough production cost equalization proceeding.  See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's October 2011 order.  In September 2012 the parties submitted a stipulation resolving the proceeding.  The stipulation provides that Entergy Texas customers will be credited over a four-month period beginning October 2012.  The credits were initiated with the October 2012 billing month on an interim basis, and the PUCT subsequently approved the stipulation, also in October 2012.

 


Retail Rate Proceedings

 

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

 

Filings with the LPSC

 

(Entergy Gulf States Louisiana)

 

            In January 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2011.  The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 10.48%, which is within the earnings bandwidth of 10.5%, plus or minus fifty basis points.  In April 2012, the LPSC Staff filed its findings, suggesting adjustments that produced an 11.54% earned return on common equity for the test year and a $0.1 million rate reduction.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accepted the LPSC Staff's recommendations, and the rate reduction was effective with the first billing cycle of May 2012.  Related to the annual gas rate stabilization plan proceedings, the LPSC directed its staff to initiate an evaluation of the 10.5% allowed return on common equity for the Entergy Gulf States Louisiana gas rate stabilization plan.  The LPSC directed that its staff should provide an analysis of the current return on equity and justification for any proposed changes to the return on equity.  In August 2012 the LPSC staff filed direct testimony recommending a midpoint return on equity of 9.3%.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed responsive testimony recommending that the 10.5% return on equity remain unchanged.  The hearing in this proceeding is currently scheduled for November 8-9, 2012.

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected an 11.94% earned return on common equity, which is above the earnings bandwidth and would indicate a $6.5 million cost of service rate change was necessary under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected a $22.9 million rate decrease for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in August 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 11.86% indicating a $5.7 million cost of service rate decrease is necessary under the formula rate plan.  The revised filing also indicates that a reduction of $20.3 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate reductions were implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change reduced Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's revenues by approximately $2.2 million in the third quarter 2012.

 

(Entergy Louisiana)

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected a 9.63% earned return on common equity, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no cost of service rate change under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected an $18.1 million rate increase for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in June 2012, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the filing to estimate at $101 million the first-year revenue requirement associated with the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project when it is placed into service.  In August 2012, Entergy Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 10.38%, which is still within the earnings bandwidth, resulting in no cost of service rate change.  The revised filing also indicates that an increase of $15.9 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate change was implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change contributed approximately $1.3 million to Entergy Louisiana's revenues in the third quarter 2012.

 

Filings with the MPSC

 

            In March 2012, Entergy Mississippi submitted its formula rate plan filing for the 2011 test year.  The filing shows an earned return on common equity of 10.92% for the test year, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no change in rates.  The filing is currently subject to MPSC review.

 


Filings with the City Council

 

            In May 2012, Entergy New Orleans filed its electric and gas formula rate plan evaluation reports for the 2011 test year.  Subsequent adjustments agreed upon with the City Council Advisors indicate a $4.9 million electric base revenue increase and a $0.05 million gas base revenue increase as necessary under the formula rate plan.  As part of the original filing, Entergy New Orleans is also requesting to increase annual funding for its storm reserve by approximately $5.7 million for the next five years.  On September 26, 2012, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council that implemented the $4.9 million electric formula rate plan rate increase and the $0.05 million gas formula rate plan rate increase.  The new rates were effective with the first billing cycle in October 2012.  In October 2012 the City Council approved a procedural schedule to resolve disputed items that includes a hearing in April 2013.  The rates implemented in October 2012 are subject to retroactive adjustments depending on the outcome of the proceeding.  The City Council has not yet acted on Entergy New Orleans's request for an increase in storm reserve funding.

 

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the rate case that Entergy Texas filed in November 2011 requesting a $112 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.6% return on common equity based on an adjusted June 2011 test year. In April 2012 the PUCT Staff filed direct testimony recommending a base rate increase of $66 million and a 9.6% return on common equity.  The PUCT Staff, however, subsequently filed a statement of position in the proceeding indicating that it was still evaluating the position it would ultimately take in the case regarding Entergy Texas's recovery of purchased power capacity costs and Entergy Texas's proposal to defer its MISO transition expenses.  In April 2012, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony indicating a revised request for a $105 million base rate increase.  A hearing was held in late-April through early-May 2012.  During the hearing and in its post-hearing brief the PUCT Staff revised its recommendation to a base rate increase of $27 million.

 

In September 2012 the PUCT issued an order approving a $28 million rate increase, effective July 2012.  The order includes a finding that "a return on common equity (ROE) of 9.80 percent will allow [Entergy Texas] a reasonable opportunity to earn a reasonable return on invested capital."  The order also provides for increases in depreciation rates and the annual storm reserve accrual.  The order also reduced Entergy Texas's proposed purchased power capacity costs, stating that they are not known and measureable; reduced Entergy Texas's regulatory assets associated with Hurricane Rita; excluded from rate recovery capitalized financially-based incentive compensation; included $1.6 million of MISO transition expense in base rates, and reduced Entergy's Texas's fuel reconciliation recovery by $4.0 million because it disagreed with  the line-loss factor used in the calculation.  After considering the progress of the proceeding in light of the PUCT order, Entergy Texas recorded in the third quarter 2012 an approximate $24 million charge to recognize that assets associated with Hurricane Rita, financially-based incentive compensation, and fuel recovery are no longer probable of recovery.  Entergy Texas continues to believe that it is entitled to recover these prudently incurred costs, however, and it filed a motion for rehearing regarding these and several other issues in the PUCT's order on October 4, 2012.  Several other parties have also filed motions for rehearing of the PUCT's order.  The PUCT subsequently denied rehearing of substantive issues.

 

System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC's October 2011 order, Entergy's December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order, and Entergy Arkansas's February 2012 filing for an interim adjustment to its production cost allocation rider requesting that the $156 million payment be collected from customers over the 22-month period from March 2012 through December 2013.  In March 2012 the APSC issued an order stating that the payment can be recovered from retail customers through the production cost allocation rider, subject to refund.  The LPSC and the APSC have requested rehearing of the FERC's October 2011 order.  The APSC, the LPSC, the PUCT, and other parties intervened in the December 2011 compliance filing proceeding, and the APSC and the LPSC also filed protests.

 


            On May 7, 2012, the FERC issued orders in several System Agreement proceedings, including an order on rehearing in the 2007 rate filing based on 2006 production costs proceeding, an order on the ALJ's initial decision in the 2009 rate filing based on 2008 production costs proceeding, and orders in other proceedings regarding the method of calculating the production costs used in the determination of the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts.  The May 7, 2012 FERC orders may result in the reallocation of costs among the Utility operating companies, although there are still FERC decisions pending in other System Agreement proceedings that could affect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts, including for the 2007 rate filing.  The FERC directed Entergy, within 45 days of the issuance of a pending FERC order on rehearing regarding the functionalization of costs in the 2007 rate filing, to file a comprehensive bandwidth recalculation report showing updated payments and receipts in the 2007 rate filing proceeding.  In the order in the 2007 rate filing proceeding, the FERC also denied Entergy's request for rehearing regarding the AmerenUE contract and ordered Entergy Arkansas to refund to AmerenUE the rough production cost equalization payments collected from AmerenUE.  Under the terms of the FERC's order the refund of $30.6 million, including interest, was made in June 2012.  Entergy Arkansas had previously recorded a regulatory provision for the potential refund to AmerenUE.  Entergy has appealed the FERC's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

 

2012 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2011 Production Costs

 

            In May 2012, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2012 rates in accordance with the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding.  The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2012, based on calendar year 2011 production costs, commencing for service in June 2012, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

 

 

 

 Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

$41

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

$-

Entergy Louisiana

($41)

Entergy Mississippi

$-

Entergy New Orleans

$-

Entergy Texas

$-

 

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the LPSC, which filed a protest as well. In August 2012, the FERC accepted Entergy's proposed rates for filing, effective June 2012, subject to refund, set the proceeding for hearing procedures, and then held those procedures in abeyance pending FERC decisions in prior production cost proceedings currently before the FERC on review.

 

Interruptible Load Proceeding

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceeding regarding the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  Entergy Arkansas filed an application in November 2010 with the APSC for recovery of the refund that it paid.  The APSC denied Entergy Arkansas's application, and also denied Entergy Arkansas's petition for rehearing.  If the FERC were to order Entergy Arkansas to pay refunds on rehearing in the interruptible load proceeding the APSC's decision would trap FERC-approved costs at Entergy Arkansas with no regulatory-approved mechanism to recover them.  In August 2011, Entergy Arkansas filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas asking for a declaratory judgment that the rejection of Entergy Arkansas's application by the APSC is preempted by the Federal Power Act.  The APSC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.  In April 2012 the United States district court dismissed Entergy Arkansas's complaint without prejudice stating that Entergy Arkansas's claim is not ripe for adjudication and that Entergy Arkansas did not have standing to bring suit at this time.

 

Entergy Arkansas Opportunity Sales Proceeding

 

            In June 2009, the LPSC filed a complaint requesting that the FERC determine that certain of Entergy Arkansas's sales of electric energy to third parties: (a) violated the provisions of the System Agreement that allocate the energy generated by Entergy System resources, (b) imprudently denied the Entergy System and its ultimate consumers the benefits of low-cost Entergy System generating capacity, and (c) violated the provision of the System Agreement that prohibits sales to third parties by individual companies absent an offer of a right-of-first-refusal to other Utility operating companies.   The LPSC's complaint challenged sales made beginning in 2002 and requested refunds.  In their response to the complaint, the Utility operating companies explained that the System Agreement clearly contemplates that the Utility operating companies may make sales to third parties for their own account, subject to the requirement that those sales be included in the load (or load shape) for the applicable Utility operating company.  The response further explained that the FERC already has determined that Entergy Arkansas's short-term wholesale sales did not trigger the "right-of-first-refusal" provision of the System Agreement.  In addition the response argued that while the D.C. Circuit had determined that the "right-of-first-refusal" issue was not properly before the FERC at the time of its earlier decision on the issue, the LPSC raised no additional claims or facts that would warrant the FERC reaching a different conclusion.

 

            In December 2010 the ALJ issued an initial decision.  The ALJ found that the System Agreement allowed for Entergy Arkansas to make the sales to third parties but concluded that the sales should be accounted for in the same manner as joint account sales.  The ALJ concluded that "shareholders" should make refunds of the damages to the Utility operating companies, along with interest.  Entergy disagreed with several aspects of the ALJ's initial decision and in January 2011 filed with the FERC exceptions to the decision.

 

            The FERC issued a decision in June 2012 and held that, while the System Agreement is ambiguous, it does provide authority for individual Utility operating companies to make opportunity sales for their own account and Entergy Arkansas made and priced these sales in good faith.  The FERC found, however, that the System Agreement does not provide authority for an individual Utility operating company to allocate the energy associated with such opportunity sales as part of its load, but provides a different allocation authority.  The FERC further found that the after-the-fact accounting methodology used to allocate the energy used to supply the sales was inconsistent with the System Agreement.  Quantifying the effect of the FERC's decision will require re-running intra-system bills for a ten-year period, and the FERC in its decision established further hearing procedures to determine the calculation of the effects.

 

                  As required by the procedural schedule established in the calculation proceeding, Entergy filed its direct testimony that included a proposed illustrative re-run, consistent with the directives in FERC's order, of intra-system bills for 2003, 2004, and 2006, the three years with the highest volume of opportunity sales. Entergy's proposed illustrative re-run of intra-system bills shows that the potential cost for Entergy Arkansas would be up to $12 million for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the potential benefit would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies. Entergy's proposed illustrative rerun of the intra-system bills also shows an offsetting potential benefit to Entergy Arkansas for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006 resulting from the effects of the FERC's order on System Agreement Service Schedules MSS-1, MSS-2, and MSS-3, and the potential offsetting cost would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies.  The LPSC had previously filed direct testimony in the proceeding alleging that over the period 2000 - 2009 the sales caused harm to the Utility operating companies' customers of $144 million. In subsequent testimony, however, the LPSC modified its original damages claim in favor of quantifying damages by re-running intra-system bills. Entergy provided to the LPSC an illustrative intra-system bill recalculation as specified by the LPSC for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the LPSC's answering testimony is due in December 2012. The FERC staff's and intervenors' direct and answering testimony is due in February 2013, a hearing is scheduled for May 2013, and the ALJ's initial decision on the calculation of the effects is due by August 28, 2013.

           

                 On July 23, 2012, Entergy and the LPSC filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's June 2012 decision, which are pending with the FERC.

 


Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Act 55 financing of its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs. In February 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana sold 500,000 of its Class A preferred membership units in Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a wholly-owned Entergy subsidiary, to a third party in exchange for $51 million plus accrued but unpaid distributions on the units. The 500,000 preferred membership units are mandatorily redeemable in January 2112.

 

New Nuclear Generation Development Costs (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

 

            Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana are developing a project option for new nuclear generation at River Bend.  In March 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC seeking approval to continue the limited development activities necessary to preserve an option to construct a new unit at River Bend.  The testimony and legal briefs of the LPSC staff generally support the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana, although other parties filed briefs, without supporting testimony, in opposition to the request.  At an evidentiary hearing in October 2011, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the LPSC staff presented testimony in support of certification of activities to preserve an option for a new nuclear plant at River Bend.  The ALJ recommended, however, that the LPSC decline the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana on the basis that the LPSC's rule on new nuclear development does not apply to activities to preserve an option to develop and on the further grounds that the companies improperly engaged in advanced preparation activities prior to certification.  There has been no suggestion that the planning activities or costs incurred were imprudent.  At its June 28, 2012 meeting the LPSC voted to uphold the ALJ's decision and directed that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana be permitted to seek recovery of these costs in the rate case filings that are anticipated in January 2013, fully reserving the LPSC's right to determine the recoverability of such costs in rates.  On September 10, 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a petition for appeal and judicial review of the LPSC's order with the Louisiana Nineteenth Judicial District Court.  A schedule for the appeal has not been established.

 

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

 

            In August 2003, a lawsuit was filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present.  The named defendants include Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, Entergy Power, Entergy Power Marketing Corp., and Entergy Arkansas.  Entergy Gulf States, Inc. was not a named defendant, but was alleged to be a co-conspirator.  The court granted the request of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. to intervene in the lawsuit to protect its interests.

 

            Plaintiffs allege that the defendants implemented a "price gouging accounting scheme" to sell to plaintiffs and similarly situated utility customers higher priced power generated by the defendants while rejecting less expensive power offered from off-system suppliers.  In particular, plaintiffs allege that the defendants manipulated and continue to manipulate the dispatch of generation so that power is purchased from affiliated expensive resources instead of buying cheaper off-system power.

 

            Plaintiffs stated in their pleadings that customers in Texas were charged at least $57 million above prevailing market prices for power.  Plaintiffs seek actual, consequential and exemplary damages, costs and attorneys' fees, and disgorgement of profits.  The plaintiffs' experts have tendered a report calculating damages in a large range, from $153 million to $972 million in present value, under various scenarios.  The Entergy defendants have tendered expert reports challenging the assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions of the plaintiffs' expert reports.

 

           


The case is pending in state district court, and in March 2012 the court found that the case met the requirements to be maintained as a class action under Texas law. On April 30, 2012, the court entered an order certifying the class. The defendants have appealed the order to the Texas Court of Appeals – First District. The appeal is pending and proceedings in district court are stayed until the appeal is resolved.

 

Entergy Texas [Member]
 
Rate And Regulatory Matters

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

 

Regulatory Assets

 

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

 

Correction of Regulatory Asset for Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana determined that its regulatory asset for income taxes was overstated because of a difference between the regulatory treatment of the income taxes associated with certain items (primarily pension expense) and the financial accounting treatment of those taxes. Beginning with Louisiana retail rate filings using the 1994 test year, retail rates were developed using the normalization method of accounting for income taxes. With respect to these items, however, the financial accounting for income taxes was computed using the flow-through method of accounting. As a result, over the years Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accumulated a regulatory asset representing the expected future recovery of tax expense for the affected items even though the tax expense was being collected currently in rates from customers and would not be recovered in the future.

 

The effect was immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy for all prior reporting periods and on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a cumulative adjustment was recorded in the first quarter 2012 to remove the regulatory asset previously recorded. This adjustment increased 2012 income tax expense by $46.3 million, decreased the regulatory asset for income taxes by $75.3 million, and decreased accumulated deferred income taxes by $29 million.

 

            The effect was also immaterial to the balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for all prior reporting periods.  Correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the first quarter 2012 could have been material to the 2012 results of operations of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and, therefore, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is revising its prior period financial statements to correct the errors.  The corrections affect the prior period financial statements as shown in the tables below:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$38,429 

 

$37,205 

Net income

$51,946 

 

$53,170 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$51,740 

 

$52,964 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$95,352 

 

$92,083 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$146,309 

 

$149,578 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

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


($21,223)

 


($24,492)

Changes in other regulatory assets

$27,171 

 

$21,858  

Other operating activities

$1,814 

 

$7,127  

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

Regulatory asset for income taxes - net

$249,058 

 

$173,724 

Accumulated deferred income taxes - current

$5,427 

 

$5,107 

Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued

$1,397,230 

 

$1,368,563 

Member's equity

$1,439,733 

 

$1,393,386 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

Member's Equity

 

Total Equity

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

$1,539,517

 

$1,494,593

 

$1,509,213

 

$1,464,289

Net income

$146,928

 

$150,197

 

$146,928

 

$150,197

Balance at September 30, 2011

$1,403,857

 

$1,362,202

 

$1,375,268

 

$1,333,613

 

Hurricane Isaac

 

            In August 2012, Hurricane Isaac caused extensive damage to portions of Entergy's service area in Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Arkansas.  The storm resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages.  Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities in areas with damage from Hurricane Isaac are currently estimated to be in the range of $400 million to $500 million, as follows:


 

 


Company

 

Hurricane Isaac
Restoration Costs

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

$10

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

70-90

Entergy Louisiana

 

240-300

Entergy Mississippi

 

30-40

Entergy New Orleans

 

50-60

Total

 

$400-500

 

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Isaac, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; securitization or other alternative financing; and traditional retail recovery on an interim and permanent basis. Each Utility operating company is responsible for its restoration cost obligations and for recovering or financing its storm-related costs. Storm cost recovery or financing may be subject to review by applicable regulatory authorities.

 

            Entergy has recorded accounts payable for the estimated costs incurred that were necessary to return customers to service.  Entergy recorded corresponding regulatory assets of approximately $130 million and construction work in progress of approximately $270 million.  Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service area because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable.  Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

 

Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery

 

Entergy Texas

 

            In December 2011, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $43 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through October 2011.  Entergy Texas and the parties to the proceeding reached an agreement that Entergy Texas would refund $67 million, including interest and additional over-recoveries through December 2011, over a three-month period.  Entergy Texas and the parties requested that interim rates consistent with the settlement be approved effective with the March 2012 billing month, and the PUCT approved the application in March 2012.  Entergy Texas completed this refund to customers in May 2012.

 

            In October 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $78 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through September 2012.  Entergy Texas requested that the refund be implemented over a six-month period effective with the January 2013 billing month.

 

            In July 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application to credit its customers approximately $37.5 million, including interest, resulting from the FERC's October 2011 order in the System Agreement rough production cost equalization proceeding.  See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's October 2011 order.  In September 2012 the parties submitted a stipulation resolving the proceeding.  The stipulation provides that Entergy Texas customers will be credited over a four-month period beginning October 2012.  The credits were initiated with the October 2012 billing month on an interim basis, and the PUCT subsequently approved the stipulation, also in October 2012.

 


Retail Rate Proceedings

 

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

 

Filings with the LPSC

 

(Entergy Gulf States Louisiana)

 

            In January 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2011.  The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 10.48%, which is within the earnings bandwidth of 10.5%, plus or minus fifty basis points.  In April 2012, the LPSC Staff filed its findings, suggesting adjustments that produced an 11.54% earned return on common equity for the test year and a $0.1 million rate reduction.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accepted the LPSC Staff's recommendations, and the rate reduction was effective with the first billing cycle of May 2012.  Related to the annual gas rate stabilization plan proceedings, the LPSC directed its staff to initiate an evaluation of the 10.5% allowed return on common equity for the Entergy Gulf States Louisiana gas rate stabilization plan.  The LPSC directed that its staff should provide an analysis of the current return on equity and justification for any proposed changes to the return on equity.  In August 2012 the LPSC staff filed direct testimony recommending a midpoint return on equity of 9.3%.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed responsive testimony recommending that the 10.5% return on equity remain unchanged.  The hearing in this proceeding is currently scheduled for November 8-9, 2012.

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected an 11.94% earned return on common equity, which is above the earnings bandwidth and would indicate a $6.5 million cost of service rate change was necessary under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected a $22.9 million rate decrease for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in August 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 11.86% indicating a $5.7 million cost of service rate decrease is necessary under the formula rate plan.  The revised filing also indicates that a reduction of $20.3 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate reductions were implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change reduced Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's revenues by approximately $2.2 million in the third quarter 2012.

 

(Entergy Louisiana)

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected a 9.63% earned return on common equity, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no cost of service rate change under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected an $18.1 million rate increase for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in June 2012, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the filing to estimate at $101 million the first-year revenue requirement associated with the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project when it is placed into service.  In August 2012, Entergy Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 10.38%, which is still within the earnings bandwidth, resulting in no cost of service rate change.  The revised filing also indicates that an increase of $15.9 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate change was implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change contributed approximately $1.3 million to Entergy Louisiana's revenues in the third quarter 2012.

 

Filings with the MPSC

 

            In March 2012, Entergy Mississippi submitted its formula rate plan filing for the 2011 test year.  The filing shows an earned return on common equity of 10.92% for the test year, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no change in rates.  The filing is currently subject to MPSC review.

 


Filings with the City Council

 

            In May 2012, Entergy New Orleans filed its electric and gas formula rate plan evaluation reports for the 2011 test year.  Subsequent adjustments agreed upon with the City Council Advisors indicate a $4.9 million electric base revenue increase and a $0.05 million gas base revenue increase as necessary under the formula rate plan.  As part of the original filing, Entergy New Orleans is also requesting to increase annual funding for its storm reserve by approximately $5.7 million for the next five years.  On September 26, 2012, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council that implemented the $4.9 million electric formula rate plan rate increase and the $0.05 million gas formula rate plan rate increase.  The new rates were effective with the first billing cycle in October 2012.  In October 2012 the City Council approved a procedural schedule to resolve disputed items that includes a hearing in April 2013.  The rates implemented in October 2012 are subject to retroactive adjustments depending on the outcome of the proceeding.  The City Council has not yet acted on Entergy New Orleans's request for an increase in storm reserve funding.

 

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the rate case that Entergy Texas filed in November 2011 requesting a $112 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.6% return on common equity based on an adjusted June 2011 test year. In April 2012 the PUCT Staff filed direct testimony recommending a base rate increase of $66 million and a 9.6% return on common equity.  The PUCT Staff, however, subsequently filed a statement of position in the proceeding indicating that it was still evaluating the position it would ultimately take in the case regarding Entergy Texas's recovery of purchased power capacity costs and Entergy Texas's proposal to defer its MISO transition expenses.  In April 2012, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony indicating a revised request for a $105 million base rate increase.  A hearing was held in late-April through early-May 2012.  During the hearing and in its post-hearing brief the PUCT Staff revised its recommendation to a base rate increase of $27 million.

 

In September 2012 the PUCT issued an order approving a $28 million rate increase, effective July 2012.  The order includes a finding that "a return on common equity (ROE) of 9.80 percent will allow [Entergy Texas] a reasonable opportunity to earn a reasonable return on invested capital."  The order also provides for increases in depreciation rates and the annual storm reserve accrual.  The order also reduced Entergy Texas's proposed purchased power capacity costs, stating that they are not known and measureable; reduced Entergy Texas's regulatory assets associated with Hurricane Rita; excluded from rate recovery capitalized financially-based incentive compensation; included $1.6 million of MISO transition expense in base rates, and reduced Entergy's Texas's fuel reconciliation recovery by $4.0 million because it disagreed with  the line-loss factor used in the calculation.  After considering the progress of the proceeding in light of the PUCT order, Entergy Texas recorded in the third quarter 2012 an approximate $24 million charge to recognize that assets associated with Hurricane Rita, financially-based incentive compensation, and fuel recovery are no longer probable of recovery.  Entergy Texas continues to believe that it is entitled to recover these prudently incurred costs, however, and it filed a motion for rehearing regarding these and several other issues in the PUCT's order on October 4, 2012.  Several other parties have also filed motions for rehearing of the PUCT's order.  The PUCT subsequently denied rehearing of substantive issues.

 

System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC's October 2011 order, Entergy's December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order, and Entergy Arkansas's February 2012 filing for an interim adjustment to its production cost allocation rider requesting that the $156 million payment be collected from customers over the 22-month period from March 2012 through December 2013.  In March 2012 the APSC issued an order stating that the payment can be recovered from retail customers through the production cost allocation rider, subject to refund.  The LPSC and the APSC have requested rehearing of the FERC's October 2011 order.  The APSC, the LPSC, the PUCT, and other parties intervened in the December 2011 compliance filing proceeding, and the APSC and the LPSC also filed protests.

 


            On May 7, 2012, the FERC issued orders in several System Agreement proceedings, including an order on rehearing in the 2007 rate filing based on 2006 production costs proceeding, an order on the ALJ's initial decision in the 2009 rate filing based on 2008 production costs proceeding, and orders in other proceedings regarding the method of calculating the production costs used in the determination of the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts.  The May 7, 2012 FERC orders may result in the reallocation of costs among the Utility operating companies, although there are still FERC decisions pending in other System Agreement proceedings that could affect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts, including for the 2007 rate filing.  The FERC directed Entergy, within 45 days of the issuance of a pending FERC order on rehearing regarding the functionalization of costs in the 2007 rate filing, to file a comprehensive bandwidth recalculation report showing updated payments and receipts in the 2007 rate filing proceeding.  In the order in the 2007 rate filing proceeding, the FERC also denied Entergy's request for rehearing regarding the AmerenUE contract and ordered Entergy Arkansas to refund to AmerenUE the rough production cost equalization payments collected from AmerenUE.  Under the terms of the FERC's order the refund of $30.6 million, including interest, was made in June 2012.  Entergy Arkansas had previously recorded a regulatory provision for the potential refund to AmerenUE.  Entergy has appealed the FERC's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

 

2012 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2011 Production Costs

 

            In May 2012, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2012 rates in accordance with the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding.  The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2012, based on calendar year 2011 production costs, commencing for service in June 2012, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

 

 

 

 Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

$41

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

$-

Entergy Louisiana

($41)

Entergy Mississippi

$-

Entergy New Orleans

$-

Entergy Texas

$-

 

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the LPSC, which filed a protest as well. In August 2012, the FERC accepted Entergy's proposed rates for filing, effective June 2012, subject to refund, set the proceeding for hearing procedures, and then held those procedures in abeyance pending FERC decisions in prior production cost proceedings currently before the FERC on review.

 

Interruptible Load Proceeding

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceeding regarding the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  Entergy Arkansas filed an application in November 2010 with the APSC for recovery of the refund that it paid.  The APSC denied Entergy Arkansas's application, and also denied Entergy Arkansas's petition for rehearing.  If the FERC were to order Entergy Arkansas to pay refunds on rehearing in the interruptible load proceeding the APSC's decision would trap FERC-approved costs at Entergy Arkansas with no regulatory-approved mechanism to recover them.  In August 2011, Entergy Arkansas filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas asking for a declaratory judgment that the rejection of Entergy Arkansas's application by the APSC is preempted by the Federal Power Act.  The APSC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.  In April 2012 the United States district court dismissed Entergy Arkansas's complaint without prejudice stating that Entergy Arkansas's claim is not ripe for adjudication and that Entergy Arkansas did not have standing to bring suit at this time.

 

Entergy Arkansas Opportunity Sales Proceeding

 

            In June 2009, the LPSC filed a complaint requesting that the FERC determine that certain of Entergy Arkansas's sales of electric energy to third parties: (a) violated the provisions of the System Agreement that allocate the energy generated by Entergy System resources, (b) imprudently denied the Entergy System and its ultimate consumers the benefits of low-cost Entergy System generating capacity, and (c) violated the provision of the System Agreement that prohibits sales to third parties by individual companies absent an offer of a right-of-first-refusal to other Utility operating companies.   The LPSC's complaint challenged sales made beginning in 2002 and requested refunds.  In their response to the complaint, the Utility operating companies explained that the System Agreement clearly contemplates that the Utility operating companies may make sales to third parties for their own account, subject to the requirement that those sales be included in the load (or load shape) for the applicable Utility operating company.  The response further explained that the FERC already has determined that Entergy Arkansas's short-term wholesale sales did not trigger the "right-of-first-refusal" provision of the System Agreement.  In addition the response argued that while the D.C. Circuit had determined that the "right-of-first-refusal" issue was not properly before the FERC at the time of its earlier decision on the issue, the LPSC raised no additional claims or facts that would warrant the FERC reaching a different conclusion.

 

            In December 2010 the ALJ issued an initial decision.  The ALJ found that the System Agreement allowed for Entergy Arkansas to make the sales to third parties but concluded that the sales should be accounted for in the same manner as joint account sales.  The ALJ concluded that "shareholders" should make refunds of the damages to the Utility operating companies, along with interest.  Entergy disagreed with several aspects of the ALJ's initial decision and in January 2011 filed with the FERC exceptions to the decision.

 

            The FERC issued a decision in June 2012 and held that, while the System Agreement is ambiguous, it does provide authority for individual Utility operating companies to make opportunity sales for their own account and Entergy Arkansas made and priced these sales in good faith.  The FERC found, however, that the System Agreement does not provide authority for an individual Utility operating company to allocate the energy associated with such opportunity sales as part of its load, but provides a different allocation authority.  The FERC further found that the after-the-fact accounting methodology used to allocate the energy used to supply the sales was inconsistent with the System Agreement.  Quantifying the effect of the FERC's decision will require re-running intra-system bills for a ten-year period, and the FERC in its decision established further hearing procedures to determine the calculation of the effects.

 

                 As required by the procedural schedule established in the calculation proceeding, Entergy filed its direct testimony that included a proposed illustrative re-run, consistent with the directives in FERC's order, of intra-system bills for 2003, 2004, and 2006, the three years with the highest volume of opportunity sales. Entergy's proposed illustrative re-run of intra-system bills shows that the potential cost for Entergy Arkansas would be up to $12 million for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the potential benefit would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies. Entergy's proposed illustrative rerun of the intra-system bills also shows an offsetting potential benefit to Entergy Arkansas for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006 resulting from the effects of the FERC's order on System Agreement Service Schedules MSS-1, MSS-2, and MSS-3, and the potential offsetting cost would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies.  The LPSC had previously filed direct testimony in the proceeding alleging that over the period 2000 - 2009 the sales caused harm to the Utility operating companies' customers of $144 million. In subsequent testimony, however, the LPSC modified its original damages claim in favor of quantifying damages by re-running intra-system bills. Entergy provided to the LPSC an illustrative intra-system bill recalculation as specified by the LPSC for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the LPSC's answering testimony is due in December 2012. The FERC staff's and intervenors' direct and answering testimony is due in February 2013, a hearing is scheduled for May 2013, and the ALJ's initial decision on the calculation of the effects is due by August 28, 2013.

          

              On July 23, 2012, Entergy and the LPSC filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's June 2012 decision, which are pending with the FERC.

 


Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Act 55 financing of its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs. In February 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana sold 500,000 of its Class A preferred membership units in Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a wholly-owned Entergy subsidiary, to a third party in exchange for $51 million plus accrued but unpaid distributions on the units. The 500,000 preferred membership units are mandatorily redeemable in January 2112.

 

New Nuclear Generation Development Costs (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

 

            Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana are developing a project option for new nuclear generation at River Bend.  In March 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC seeking approval to continue the limited development activities necessary to preserve an option to construct a new unit at River Bend.  The testimony and legal briefs of the LPSC staff generally support the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana, although other parties filed briefs, without supporting testimony, in opposition to the request.  At an evidentiary hearing in October 2011, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the LPSC staff presented testimony in support of certification of activities to preserve an option for a new nuclear plant at River Bend.  The ALJ recommended, however, that the LPSC decline the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana on the basis that the LPSC's rule on new nuclear development does not apply to activities to preserve an option to develop and on the further grounds that the companies improperly engaged in advanced preparation activities prior to certification.  There has been no suggestion that the planning activities or costs incurred were imprudent.  At its June 28, 2012 meeting the LPSC voted to uphold the ALJ's decision and directed that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana be permitted to seek recovery of these costs in the rate case filings that are anticipated in January 2013, fully reserving the LPSC's right to determine the recoverability of such costs in rates.  On September 10, 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a petition for appeal and judicial review of the LPSC's order with the Louisiana Nineteenth Judicial District Court.  A schedule for the appeal has not been established.

 

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

 

            In August 2003, a lawsuit was filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present.  The named defendants include Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, Entergy Power, Entergy Power Marketing Corp., and Entergy Arkansas.  Entergy Gulf States, Inc. was not a named defendant, but was alleged to be a co-conspirator.  The court granted the request of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. to intervene in the lawsuit to protect its interests.

 

            Plaintiffs allege that the defendants implemented a "price gouging accounting scheme" to sell to plaintiffs and similarly situated utility customers higher priced power generated by the defendants while rejecting less expensive power offered from off-system suppliers.  In particular, plaintiffs allege that the defendants manipulated and continue to manipulate the dispatch of generation so that power is purchased from affiliated expensive resources instead of buying cheaper off-system power.

 

            Plaintiffs stated in their pleadings that customers in Texas were charged at least $57 million above prevailing market prices for power.  Plaintiffs seek actual, consequential and exemplary damages, costs and attorneys' fees, and disgorgement of profits.  The plaintiffs' experts have tendered a report calculating damages in a large range, from $153 million to $972 million in present value, under various scenarios.  The Entergy defendants have tendered expert reports challenging the assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions of the plaintiffs' expert reports.

 

           


The case is pending in state district court, and in March 2012 the court found that the case met the requirements to be maintained as a class action under Texas law. On April 30, 2012, the court entered an order certifying the class. The defendants have appealed the order to the Texas Court of Appeals – First District. The appeal is pending and proceedings in district court are stayed until the appeal is resolved.

 

System Energy [Member]
 
Rate And Regulatory Matters

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

 

Regulatory Assets

 

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

 

Correction of Regulatory Asset for Income Taxes

 

In the first quarter 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana determined that its regulatory asset for income taxes was overstated because of a difference between the regulatory treatment of the income taxes associated with certain items (primarily pension expense) and the financial accounting treatment of those taxes. Beginning with Louisiana retail rate filings using the 1994 test year, retail rates were developed using the normalization method of accounting for income taxes. With respect to these items, however, the financial accounting for income taxes was computed using the flow-through method of accounting. As a result, over the years Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accumulated a regulatory asset representing the expected future recovery of tax expense for the affected items even though the tax expense was being collected currently in rates from customers and would not be recovered in the future.

 

The effect was immaterial to the consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy for all prior reporting periods and on a cumulative basis. Therefore, a cumulative adjustment was recorded in the first quarter 2012 to remove the regulatory asset previously recorded. This adjustment increased 2012 income tax expense by $46.3 million, decreased the regulatory asset for income taxes by $75.3 million, and decreased accumulated deferred income taxes by $29 million.

 

            The effect was also immaterial to the balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana for all prior reporting periods.  Correcting the cumulative effect of the error in the first quarter 2012 could have been material to the 2012 results of operations of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and, therefore, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana is revising its prior period financial statements to correct the errors.  The corrections affect the prior period financial statements as shown in the tables below:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$38,429 

 

$37,205 

Net income

$51,946 

 

$53,170 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$51,740 

 

$52,964 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Income Statement

 

 

 

Income taxes

$95,352 

 

$92,083 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

Earnings applicable to common equity

$146,309 

 

$149,578 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

 

Net income

$146,928 

 

$150,197 

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


($21,223)

 


($24,492)

Changes in other regulatory assets

$27,171 

 

$21,858  

Other operating activities

$1,814 

 

$7,127  

 

 

December 31, 2011

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

Balance Sheet

 

 

 

Regulatory asset for income taxes - net

$249,058 

 

$173,724 

Accumulated deferred income taxes - current

$5,427 

 

$5,107 

Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued

$1,397,230 

 

$1,368,563 

Member's equity

$1,439,733 

 

$1,393,386 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2011

 

Member's Equity

 

Total Equity

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

As
previously
reported

 


As
corrected

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement of Changes in Equity

 

 

 

Balance at December 31, 2010

$1,539,517

 

$1,494,593

 

$1,509,213

 

$1,464,289

Net income

$146,928

 

$150,197

 

$146,928

 

$150,197

Balance at September 30, 2011

$1,403,857

 

$1,362,202

 

$1,375,268

 

$1,333,613

 

Hurricane Isaac

 

            In August 2012, Hurricane Isaac caused extensive damage to portions of Entergy's service area in Louisiana, and to a lesser extent in Mississippi and Arkansas.  The storm resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages.  Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy's electric facilities in areas with damage from Hurricane Isaac are currently estimated to be in the range of $400 million to $500 million, as follows:


 

 


Company

 

Hurricane Isaac
Restoration Costs

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

$10

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

70-90

Entergy Louisiana

 

240-300

Entergy Mississippi

 

30-40

Entergy New Orleans

 

50-60

Total

 

$400-500

 

The Utility operating companies are considering all reasonable avenues to recover storm-related costs from Hurricane Isaac, including, but not limited to, accessing funded storm reserves; securitization or other alternative financing; and traditional retail recovery on an interim and permanent basis. Each Utility operating company is responsible for its restoration cost obligations and for recovering or financing its storm-related costs. Storm cost recovery or financing may be subject to review by applicable regulatory authorities.

 

            Entergy has recorded accounts payable for the estimated costs incurred that were necessary to return customers to service.  Entergy recorded corresponding regulatory assets of approximately $130 million and construction work in progress of approximately $270 million.  Entergy recorded the regulatory assets in accordance with its accounting policies and based on the historic treatment of such costs in its service area because management believes that recovery through some form of regulatory mechanism is probable.  Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, however, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

 

Fuel and Purchased Power Cost Recovery

 

Entergy Texas

 

            In December 2011, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $43 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through October 2011.  Entergy Texas and the parties to the proceeding reached an agreement that Entergy Texas would refund $67 million, including interest and additional over-recoveries through December 2011, over a three-month period.  Entergy Texas and the parties requested that interim rates consistent with the settlement be approved effective with the March 2012 billing month, and the PUCT approved the application in March 2012.  Entergy Texas completed this refund to customers in May 2012.

 

            In October 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT a request to refund approximately $78 million, including interest, of fuel cost recovery over-collections through September 2012.  Entergy Texas requested that the refund be implemented over a six-month period effective with the January 2013 billing month.

 

            In July 2012, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application to credit its customers approximately $37.5 million, including interest, resulting from the FERC's October 2011 order in the System Agreement rough production cost equalization proceeding.  See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the FERC's October 2011 order.  In September 2012 the parties submitted a stipulation resolving the proceeding.  The stipulation provides that Entergy Texas customers will be credited over a four-month period beginning October 2012.  The credits were initiated with the October 2012 billing month on an interim basis, and the PUCT subsequently approved the stipulation, also in October 2012.

 


Retail Rate Proceedings

 

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

 

Filings with the LPSC

 

(Entergy Gulf States Louisiana)

 

            In January 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2011.  The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 10.48%, which is within the earnings bandwidth of 10.5%, plus or minus fifty basis points.  In April 2012, the LPSC Staff filed its findings, suggesting adjustments that produced an 11.54% earned return on common equity for the test year and a $0.1 million rate reduction.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana accepted the LPSC Staff's recommendations, and the rate reduction was effective with the first billing cycle of May 2012.  Related to the annual gas rate stabilization plan proceedings, the LPSC directed its staff to initiate an evaluation of the 10.5% allowed return on common equity for the Entergy Gulf States Louisiana gas rate stabilization plan.  The LPSC directed that its staff should provide an analysis of the current return on equity and justification for any proposed changes to the return on equity.  In August 2012 the LPSC staff filed direct testimony recommending a midpoint return on equity of 9.3%.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed responsive testimony recommending that the 10.5% return on equity remain unchanged.  The hearing in this proceeding is currently scheduled for November 8-9, 2012.

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected an 11.94% earned return on common equity, which is above the earnings bandwidth and would indicate a $6.5 million cost of service rate change was necessary under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected a $22.9 million rate decrease for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in August 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 11.86% indicating a $5.7 million cost of service rate decrease is necessary under the formula rate plan.  The revised filing also indicates that a reduction of $20.3 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate reductions were implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change reduced Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's revenues by approximately $2.2 million in the third quarter 2012.

 

(Entergy Louisiana)

 

            In May 2012, Entergy Louisiana made its formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 2011 test year.  The filing reflected a 9.63% earned return on common equity, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no cost of service rate change under the formula rate plan.  The filing also reflected an $18.1 million rate increase for incremental capacity costs.  Subsequently, in June 2012, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the filing to estimate at $101 million the first-year revenue requirement associated with the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project when it is placed into service.  In August 2012, Entergy Louisiana submitted a revised filing that reflects an earned return on common equity of 10.38%, which is still within the earnings bandwidth, resulting in no cost of service rate change.  The revised filing also indicates that an increase of $15.9 million should be reflected in the incremental capacity rider.  The rate change was implemented, subject to refund, effective for bills rendered the first billing cycle of September 2012.  The filing remains subject to LPSC review.  The September 2012 rate change contributed approximately $1.3 million to Entergy Louisiana's revenues in the third quarter 2012.

 

Filings with the MPSC

 

            In March 2012, Entergy Mississippi submitted its formula rate plan filing for the 2011 test year.  The filing shows an earned return on common equity of 10.92% for the test year, which is within the earnings bandwidth and results in no change in rates.  The filing is currently subject to MPSC review.

 


Filings with the City Council

 

            In May 2012, Entergy New Orleans filed its electric and gas formula rate plan evaluation reports for the 2011 test year.  Subsequent adjustments agreed upon with the City Council Advisors indicate a $4.9 million electric base revenue increase and a $0.05 million gas base revenue increase as necessary under the formula rate plan.  As part of the original filing, Entergy New Orleans is also requesting to increase annual funding for its storm reserve by approximately $5.7 million for the next five years.  On September 26, 2012, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council that implemented the $4.9 million electric formula rate plan rate increase and the $0.05 million gas formula rate plan rate increase.  The new rates were effective with the first billing cycle in October 2012.  In October 2012 the City Council approved a procedural schedule to resolve disputed items that includes a hearing in April 2013.  The rates implemented in October 2012 are subject to retroactive adjustments depending on the outcome of the proceeding.  The City Council has not yet acted on Entergy New Orleans's request for an increase in storm reserve funding.

 

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the rate case that Entergy Texas filed in November 2011 requesting a $112 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.6% return on common equity based on an adjusted June 2011 test year. In April 2012 the PUCT Staff filed direct testimony recommending a base rate increase of $66 million and a 9.6% return on common equity.  The PUCT Staff, however, subsequently filed a statement of position in the proceeding indicating that it was still evaluating the position it would ultimately take in the case regarding Entergy Texas's recovery of purchased power capacity costs and Entergy Texas's proposal to defer its MISO transition expenses.  In April 2012, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony indicating a revised request for a $105 million base rate increase.  A hearing was held in late-April through early-May 2012.  During the hearing and in its post-hearing brief the PUCT Staff revised its recommendation to a base rate increase of $27 million.

 

In September 2012 the PUCT issued an order approving a $28 million rate increase, effective July 2012.  The order includes a finding that "a return on common equity (ROE) of 9.80 percent will allow [Entergy Texas] a reasonable opportunity to earn a reasonable return on invested capital."  The order also provides for increases in depreciation rates and the annual storm reserve accrual.  The order also reduced Entergy Texas's proposed purchased power capacity costs, stating that they are not known and measureable; reduced Entergy Texas's regulatory assets associated with Hurricane Rita; excluded from rate recovery capitalized financially-based incentive compensation; included $1.6 million of MISO transition expense in base rates, and reduced Entergy's Texas's fuel reconciliation recovery by $4.0 million because it disagreed with  the line-loss factor used in the calculation.  After considering the progress of the proceeding in light of the PUCT order, Entergy Texas recorded in the third quarter 2012 an approximate $24 million charge to recognize that assets associated with Hurricane Rita, financially-based incentive compensation, and fuel recovery are no longer probable of recovery.  Entergy Texas continues to believe that it is entitled to recover these prudently incurred costs, however, and it filed a motion for rehearing regarding these and several other issues in the PUCT's order on October 4, 2012.  Several other parties have also filed motions for rehearing of the PUCT's order.  The PUCT subsequently denied rehearing of substantive issues.

 

System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC's October 2011 order, Entergy's December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order, and Entergy Arkansas's February 2012 filing for an interim adjustment to its production cost allocation rider requesting that the $156 million payment be collected from customers over the 22-month period from March 2012 through December 2013.  In March 2012 the APSC issued an order stating that the payment can be recovered from retail customers through the production cost allocation rider, subject to refund.  The LPSC and the APSC have requested rehearing of the FERC's October 2011 order.  The APSC, the LPSC, the PUCT, and other parties intervened in the December 2011 compliance filing proceeding, and the APSC and the LPSC also filed protests.

 


            On May 7, 2012, the FERC issued orders in several System Agreement proceedings, including an order on rehearing in the 2007 rate filing based on 2006 production costs proceeding, an order on the ALJ's initial decision in the 2009 rate filing based on 2008 production costs proceeding, and orders in other proceedings regarding the method of calculating the production costs used in the determination of the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts.  The May 7, 2012 FERC orders may result in the reallocation of costs among the Utility operating companies, although there are still FERC decisions pending in other System Agreement proceedings that could affect the rough production cost equalization payments and receipts, including for the 2007 rate filing.  The FERC directed Entergy, within 45 days of the issuance of a pending FERC order on rehearing regarding the functionalization of costs in the 2007 rate filing, to file a comprehensive bandwidth recalculation report showing updated payments and receipts in the 2007 rate filing proceeding.  In the order in the 2007 rate filing proceeding, the FERC also denied Entergy's request for rehearing regarding the AmerenUE contract and ordered Entergy Arkansas to refund to AmerenUE the rough production cost equalization payments collected from AmerenUE.  Under the terms of the FERC's order the refund of $30.6 million, including interest, was made in June 2012.  Entergy Arkansas had previously recorded a regulatory provision for the potential refund to AmerenUE.  Entergy has appealed the FERC's decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

 

Rough Production Cost Equalization Rates

 

2012 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2011 Production Costs

 

            In May 2012, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2012 rates in accordance with the FERC's orders in the System Agreement proceeding.  The filing shows the following payments/receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2012, based on calendar year 2011 production costs, commencing for service in June 2012, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC's orders:

 

 

 

 Payments or
(Receipts)

 

(In Millions)

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

$41

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

$-

Entergy Louisiana

($41)

Entergy Mississippi

$-

Entergy New Orleans

$-

Entergy Texas

$-

 

Several parties intervened in the proceeding at the FERC, including the LPSC, which filed a protest as well. In August 2012, the FERC accepted Entergy's proposed rates for filing, effective June 2012, subject to refund, set the proceeding for hearing procedures, and then held those procedures in abeyance pending FERC decisions in prior production cost proceedings currently before the FERC on review.

 

Interruptible Load Proceeding

 

            See the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceeding regarding the treatment under the System Agreement of the Utility operating companies' interruptible loads.  Entergy Arkansas filed an application in November 2010 with the APSC for recovery of the refund that it paid.  The APSC denied Entergy Arkansas's application, and also denied Entergy Arkansas's petition for rehearing.  If the FERC were to order Entergy Arkansas to pay refunds on rehearing in the interruptible load proceeding the APSC's decision would trap FERC-approved costs at Entergy Arkansas with no regulatory-approved mechanism to recover them.  In August 2011, Entergy Arkansas filed a complaint in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas asking for a declaratory judgment that the rejection of Entergy Arkansas's application by the APSC is preempted by the Federal Power Act.  The APSC filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.  In April 2012 the United States district court dismissed Entergy Arkansas's complaint without prejudice stating that Entergy Arkansas's claim is not ripe for adjudication and that Entergy Arkansas did not have standing to bring suit at this time.

 

Entergy Arkansas Opportunity Sales Proceeding

 

            In June 2009, the LPSC filed a complaint requesting that the FERC determine that certain of Entergy Arkansas's sales of electric energy to third parties: (a) violated the provisions of the System Agreement that allocate the energy generated by Entergy System resources, (b) imprudently denied the Entergy System and its ultimate consumers the benefits of low-cost Entergy System generating capacity, and (c) violated the provision of the System Agreement that prohibits sales to third parties by individual companies absent an offer of a right-of-first-refusal to other Utility operating companies.   The LPSC's complaint challenged sales made beginning in 2002 and requested refunds.  In their response to the complaint, the Utility operating companies explained that the System Agreement clearly contemplates that the Utility operating companies may make sales to third parties for their own account, subject to the requirement that those sales be included in the load (or load shape) for the applicable Utility operating company.  The response further explained that the FERC already has determined that Entergy Arkansas's short-term wholesale sales did not trigger the "right-of-first-refusal" provision of the System Agreement.  In addition the response argued that while the D.C. Circuit had determined that the "right-of-first-refusal" issue was not properly before the FERC at the time of its earlier decision on the issue, the LPSC raised no additional claims or facts that would warrant the FERC reaching a different conclusion.

 

            In December 2010 the ALJ issued an initial decision.  The ALJ found that the System Agreement allowed for Entergy Arkansas to make the sales to third parties but concluded that the sales should be accounted for in the same manner as joint account sales.  The ALJ concluded that "shareholders" should make refunds of the damages to the Utility operating companies, along with interest.  Entergy disagreed with several aspects of the ALJ's initial decision and in January 2011 filed with the FERC exceptions to the decision.

 

            The FERC issued a decision in June 2012 and held that, while the System Agreement is ambiguous, it does provide authority for individual Utility operating companies to make opportunity sales for their own account and Entergy Arkansas made and priced these sales in good faith.  The FERC found, however, that the System Agreement does not provide authority for an individual Utility operating company to allocate the energy associated with such opportunity sales as part of its load, but provides a different allocation authority.  The FERC further found that the after-the-fact accounting methodology used to allocate the energy used to supply the sales was inconsistent with the System Agreement.  Quantifying the effect of the FERC's decision will require re-running intra-system bills for a ten-year period, and the FERC in its decision established further hearing procedures to determine the calculation of the effects.

 

                 As required by the procedural schedule established in the calculation proceeding, Entergy filed its direct testimony that included a proposed illustrative re-run, consistent with the directives in FERC's order, of intra-system bills for 2003, 2004, and 2006, the three years with the highest volume of opportunity sales. Entergy's proposed illustrative re-run of intra-system bills shows that the potential cost for Entergy Arkansas would be up to $12 million for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the potential benefit would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies. Entergy's proposed illustrative rerun of the intra-system bills also shows an offsetting potential benefit to Entergy Arkansas for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006 resulting from the effects of the FERC's order on System Agreement Service Schedules MSS-1, MSS-2, and MSS-3, and the potential offsetting cost would be significantly less than that for each of the other Utility operating companies.  The LPSC had previously filed direct testimony in the proceeding alleging that over the period 2000 - 2009 the sales caused harm to the Utility operating companies' customers of $144 million. In subsequent testimony, however, the LPSC modified its original damages claim in favor of quantifying damages by re-running intra-system bills. Entergy provided to the LPSC an illustrative intra-system bill recalculation as specified by the LPSC for the years 2003, 2004, and 2006, and the LPSC's answering testimony is due in December 2012. The FERC staff's and intervenors' direct and answering testimony is due in February 2013, a hearing is scheduled for May 2013, and the ALJ's initial decision on the calculation of the effects is due by August 28, 2013.

           

                  On July 23, 2012, Entergy and the LPSC filed requests for rehearing of the FERC's June 2012 decision, which are pending with the FERC.

 


Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators

 

Entergy Gulf States Louisiana

 

Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita

 

See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's Act 55 financing of its Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs. In February 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana sold 500,000 of its Class A preferred membership units in Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a wholly-owned Entergy subsidiary, to a third party in exchange for $51 million plus accrued but unpaid distributions on the units. The 500,000 preferred membership units are mandatorily redeemable in January 2112.

 

New Nuclear Generation Development Costs (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

 

            Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana are developing a project option for new nuclear generation at River Bend.  In March 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed with the LPSC seeking approval to continue the limited development activities necessary to preserve an option to construct a new unit at River Bend.  The testimony and legal briefs of the LPSC staff generally support the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana, although other parties filed briefs, without supporting testimony, in opposition to the request.  At an evidentiary hearing in October 2011, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and the LPSC staff presented testimony in support of certification of activities to preserve an option for a new nuclear plant at River Bend.  The ALJ recommended, however, that the LPSC decline the request of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana on the basis that the LPSC's rule on new nuclear development does not apply to activities to preserve an option to develop and on the further grounds that the companies improperly engaged in advanced preparation activities prior to certification.  There has been no suggestion that the planning activities or costs incurred were imprudent.  At its June 28, 2012 meeting the LPSC voted to uphold the ALJ's decision and directed that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana be permitted to seek recovery of these costs in the rate case filings that are anticipated in January 2013, fully reserving the LPSC's right to determine the recoverability of such costs in rates.  On September 10, 2012, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a petition for appeal and judicial review of the LPSC's order with the Louisiana Nineteenth Judicial District Court.  A schedule for the appeal has not been established.

 

Texas Power Price Lawsuit

 

            In August 2003, a lawsuit was filed in the district court of Chambers County, Texas by Texas residents on behalf of a purported class of the Texas retail customers of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. who were billed and paid for electric power from January 1, 1994 to the present.  The named defendants include Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, Entergy Power, Entergy Power Marketing Corp., and Entergy Arkansas.  Entergy Gulf States, Inc. was not a named defendant, but was alleged to be a co-conspirator.  The court granted the request of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. to intervene in the lawsuit to protect its interests.

 

            Plaintiffs allege that the defendants implemented a "price gouging accounting scheme" to sell to plaintiffs and similarly situated utility customers higher priced power generated by the defendants while rejecting less expensive power offered from off-system suppliers.  In particular, plaintiffs allege that the defendants manipulated and continue to manipulate the dispatch of generation so that power is purchased from affiliated expensive resources instead of buying cheaper off-system power.

 

            Plaintiffs stated in their pleadings that customers in Texas were charged at least $57 million above prevailing market prices for power.  Plaintiffs seek actual, consequential and exemplary damages, costs and attorneys' fees, and disgorgement of profits.  The plaintiffs' experts have tendered a report calculating damages in a large range, from $153 million to $972 million in present value, under various scenarios.  The Entergy defendants have tendered expert reports challenging the assumptions, methodologies, and conclusions of the plaintiffs' expert reports.

 

           


The case is pending in state district court, and in March 2012 the court found that the case met the requirements to be maintained as a class action under Texas law. On April 30, 2012, the court entered an order certifying the class. The defendants have appealed the order to the Texas Court of Appeals – First District. The appeal is pending and proceedings in district court are stayed until the appeal is resolved.