-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, PYdxNmejw492LAVm3AA6dZlWSF3TkIvXOXX1z9uV3vQgRpnZFc3hWnBK45kQR0Xr M3PqmkWoOGQIF/pMhpu1RQ== 0000065984-05-000193.txt : 20050504 0000065984-05-000193.hdr.sgml : 20050504 20050504150820 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000065984-05-000193 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 29 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20050331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20050504 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20050504 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY CORP /DE/ CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000065984 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 721229752 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-11299 FILM NUMBER: 05798706 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 639 LOYOLA AVE CITY: NEW ORLEANS STATE: LA ZIP: 70113 BUSINESS PHONE: 5045764000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: PO BOX 61000 CITY: NEW ORLEANS STATE: LA ZIP: 70161 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY CORP /FL/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940329 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY GSU HOLDINGS INC /DE/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19940329 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MIDDLE SOUTH UTILITIES INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19890521 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000202584 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 720752777 STATE OF INCORPORATION: AR FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-09067 FILM NUMBER: 05798707 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: ECHELON ONE STREET 2: 1340 ECHELON PKWY CITY: JACKSON STATE: MS ZIP: 39213 BUSINESS PHONE: 601-368-5000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: ECHELON ONE STREET 2: 1340 ECHELON PKWY CITY: JACKSON STATE: MS ZIP: 39213 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MIDDLE SOUTH ENERGY INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19860803 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000071508 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC & OTHER SERVICES COMBINED [4931] IRS NUMBER: 720273040 STATE OF INCORPORATION: LA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-05807 FILM NUMBER: 05798708 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 PERDIDO ST STREET 2: BLDG 505 CITY: NEW ORLEANS STATE: LA ZIP: 70112 BUSINESS PHONE: 504-670-3674 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1600 PERDIDO ST STREET 2: BLDG 505 CITY: NEW ORLEANS STATE: LA ZIP: 70112 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC SERVICE INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000066901 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 640205830 STATE OF INCORPORATION: MS FISCAL YEAR END: 1204 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-31508 FILM NUMBER: 05798709 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 308 EAST PEARL STREET CITY: JACKSON STATE: MS ZIP: 39201 BUSINESS PHONE: 601-368-5000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 308 EAST PEARL STREET CITY: JACKSON STATE: MS ZIP: 39201 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: MISSISSIPPI POWER & LIGHT CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY LOUISIANA INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000060527 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 720245590 STATE OF INCORPORATION: LA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-08474 FILM NUMBER: 05798710 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4809 JEFFERSON HGWY CITY: JEFFERSON STATE: LA ZIP: 70121 BUSINESS PHONE: 504-840-2734 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 4809 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY CITY: JEFFERSON STATE: LA ZIP: 70121 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: LOUISIANA POWER & LIGHT CO /LA/ DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19960610 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY ARKANSAS INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000007323 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 710005900 STATE OF INCORPORATION: AR FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-10764 FILM NUMBER: 05798712 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 425 WEST CAPITOL AVE STREET 2: 40TH FLOOR CITY: LITTLE ROCK STATE: AR ZIP: 72201 BUSINESS PHONE: 501-377-4000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: P O BOX 551 CITY: LITTLE ROCK STATE: AR ZIP: 72203 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: ARKANSAS POWER & LIGHT CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ENTERGY GULF STATES INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000044570 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911] IRS NUMBER: 740662730 STATE OF INCORPORATION: TX FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-27031 FILM NUMBER: 05798711 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 PINE ST CITY: BEAUMONT STATE: TX ZIP: 77701 BUSINESS PHONE: 409-838-6631 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 350 PINE ST CITY: BEAUMONT STATE: TX ZIP: 77701 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: GULF STATES UTILITIES CO DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920703 10-Q 1 a10-q.htm

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

X

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

   
 

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2005

 

OR

 

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

   
 

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

Commission
File Number

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

I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.

1-11299

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

72-1229752

1-10764

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

71-0005900

1-27031

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

74-0662730

1-8474

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

72-0245590

1-31508

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

64-0205830

0-5807

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

72-0273040

1-9067

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

72-0752777

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes

X

No

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

 

Yes

No

Entergy Corporation

Ö

 

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

 

Ö

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

 

Ö

Entergy Louisiana, Inc.

 

Ö

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

 

Ö

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

 

Ö

System Energy Resources, Inc.

 

Ö

Common Stock Outstanding

 

Outstanding at April 29, 2005

Entergy Corporation

($0.01 par value)

211,998,084

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

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
March 31, 2005

 

 

Page Number

   

Definitions

1

Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

4

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

6

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

8

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

12

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

13

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

14

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

16

 

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

18

 

Selected Operating Results

19

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

20

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

29

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

30

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

31

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

33

 

Income Statements

34

 

Statements of Cash Flows

35

 

Balance Sheets

36

 

Selected Operating Results

38

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

39

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

40

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

41

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

44

 

Income Statements

45

 

Statements of Cash Flows

47

 

Balance Sheets

48

 

Statements of Retained Earnings and Comprehensive Income

50

 

Selected Operating Results

51

Entergy Louisiana, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

52

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

53

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

54

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

56

 

Income Statements

58

 

Statements of Cash Flows

59

 

Balance Sheets

60

 

Selected Operating Results

62

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

63

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

64

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

65

Critical Accounting Estimates

66

 

Income Statements

68

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
March 31, 2005

 

Page Number

   
 

Statements of Cash Flows

69

 

Balance Sheets

70

 

Selected Operating Results

72

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

73

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

74

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

74

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

76

 

Income Statements

77

 

Statements of Cash Flows

79

 

Balance Sheets

80

 

Selected Operating Results

82

System Energy Resources, Inc.

 
 

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

 
   

Results of Operations

83

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources

83

   

Significant Factors and Known Trends

84

   

Critical Accounting Estimates

84

 

Income Statements

85

 

Statements of Cash Flows

87

 

Balance Sheets

88

Notes to Respective Financial Statements

90

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

98

Part II. Other Information

 
 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

99

 

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

99

 

Item 5. Other Information

99

 

Item 6. Exhibits

101

Signature

103

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

In this filing and from time to time, Entergy makes statements concerning its expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance. Such statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although Entergy believes that these forward-looking statements and the underlying assumptions are reasonable, it cannot provide assurance that they will prove correct. Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, Entergy undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Some of those factors (in addition to others described elsewhere in this report and in subsequent securities filings) include:

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

 

 

 

 

(Page left blank intentionally)

DEFINITIONS

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

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

   

AFUDC

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

ALJ

Administrative Law Judge

ANO 1 and 2

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

APSC

Arkansas Public Service Commission

Board

Board of Directors of Entergy Corporation

Cajun

Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.

capacity factor

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

City Council or Council

Council of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana

CPI-U

Consumer Price Index - Urban

DOE

United States Department of Energy

domestic utility companies

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

EITF

FASB's Emerging Issues Task Force

Energy Commodity Services

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

Entergy

Entergy Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries

Entergy Corporation

Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Entergy-Koch

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

EPA

United States Environmental Protection Agency

EPDC

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

FASB

Financial Accounting Standards Board

FEMA

Federal Emergency Management Agency

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

firm liquidated damages

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

FSP

FASB Staff Position

Grand Gulf

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

GWh

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

Independence

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

IRS

Internal Revenue Service

ISO

Independent System Operator

kV

Kilovolt

kW

Kilowatt

kWh

Kilowatt-hour(s)

LDEQ

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

LPSC

Louisiana Public Service Commission

Mcf

1,000 cubic feet of gas

MMBtu

One million British Thermal Units

MPSC

Mississippi Public Service Commission

DEFINITIONS (Continued)

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

MW

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

MWh

Megawatt-hour(s)

Nelson Unit 6

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

Net debt ratio

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

Net MW in operation

Installed capacity owned or operated

Net revenue

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

Non-Utility Nuclear

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

NRC

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

NYPA

New York Power Authority

PPA

Purchased power agreement

production cost

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

PRP

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

PUCT

Public Utility Commission of Texas

PUHCA

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended

PURPA

Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978

Ritchie Unit 2

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

River Bend

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

SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission

SFAS

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards as promulgated by the FASB

SMEPA

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

spark spread

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

System Agreement

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

System Energy

System Energy Resources, Inc.

System Fuels

System Fuels, Inc.

TWh

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

unit-contingent

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

unit-contingent with
availability guarantees

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

DEFINITIONS (Concluded)

Abbreviation or Acronym

Term

   

Unit Power Sales Agreement

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

UK

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

U.S. Utility

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

Waterford 3

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

weather-adjusted usage

Electric usage excluding the effects of deviations from normal weather

White Bluff

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

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Results of Operations

Entergy's consolidated earnings applicable to common stock for the first quarter 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

Operating Segment

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Utility

 

$90,499 

 

$115,658 

Non-Utility Nuclear

 

77,965 

 

68,833 

Parent & Other

 

3,532 

 

22,670 

Total

 

$171,996 

 

$207,161 

Entergy's income before taxes is discussed below according to the operating segments listed above. See Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements for more information concerning Entergy's operating segments and their financial results for the first quarter of 2005 and 2004.

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

U.S. Utility

The decrease in earnings for the U.S. Utility for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 from $115.7 million to $90.5 million was primarily due to lower net revenue and higher other operation and maintenance expenses.

Net Revenue

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

  

 

Amount

  

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$924.7 

Volume/weather

 

(24.3)

Price applied to unbilled sales

 

(16.1)

Deferred fuel cost revisions

 

15.5 

Rate refund provisions

 

4.1 

Other

 

5.8 

2005 net revenue

 

$909.7 

The volume/weather variance resulted from decreased usage by residential customers primarily during the unbilled sales period.

The price applied to unbilled sales variance resulted from a decrease in the fuel price applied to unbilled sales. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for unbilled revenues.

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

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

Other Income Statement Variances

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $331.4 million for the first quarter 2004 to $365.4 million for the first quarter 2005 primarily due to:

  • an increase of $11.4 million in benefits expense;
  • an increase of $7.3 million in fossil expenses as a result of additional planned off-peak fossil generation maintenance outages; and
  • an increase of $4.6 million in nuclear expenses primarily due to higher labor, contract, and material costs associated with maintenance outages.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased from $190.4 million for the first quarter 2004 to $204.2 million for the first quarter 2005 due primarily to an increase in plant in service.

Other income increased from $15 million for the first quarter 2004 to $25.3 million for the first quarter 2005 primarily due to:

  • an increase of $5.4 million in the allowance for equity funds used during construction as a result of higher construction expenditures; and
  • an increase of $4.4 million in interest and dividend income primarily due to higher interest on temporary cash investments.

Interest on long-term debt decreased from $101.6 million for the first quarter 2004 to $93.0 million for the first quarter 2005 primarily due to the net retirement of $319 million of long-term debt at the domestic utility companies in 2004. Refer to Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K and Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements herein for details of long-term debt.

Non-Utility Nuclear

Following are key performance measures for Non-Utility Nuclear for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

Net MW in operation at March 31

 

4,058

 

4,001

Average realized price per MWh

 

$41.56

 

$39.70

Generation in GWh for the quarter

 

8,267

 

8,687

Capacity factor for the quarter

 

93.2%

 

98.9%

The increase in earnings for Non-Utility Nuclear for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 from $68.8 million to $78.0 million was primarily due to miscellaneous income of $15.8 million net-of-tax resulting from a reduction in the decommissioning liability for a plant, as discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. Also contributing to the increase in earnings was higher contract pricing. The increase in earnings was partially offset by the effects of lower generation associated with a planned refueling outage at a plant.

Parent & Other

The decrease in earnings for Parent & Other from $22.7 million for the first quarter of 2004 to $3.5 million for the first quarter of 2005 was primarily due to the absence of earnings from Entergy's investment in Entergy-Koch due to the sale of Entergy-Koch's energy trading and pipeline businesses in the fourth quarter of 2004, as discussed in the Form 10-K. Also contributing to the decrease in earnings was the favorable settlement of a tax audit issue, which increased earnings in the first quarter of 2004.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 34.7% and 33.2%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to a downward revision in the estimate of federal income tax expense for prior tax periods and investment tax credit amortization partially offset by state income taxes and regulatory plant differences on utility plant items. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to the favorable settlement of a tax audit issue and investment tax credit amortization partially offset by state income taxes and regulatory plant differences on utility plant items.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy's capital structure, capital expenditure plans and other uses of capital, and sources of capital. Following are updates to that discussion.

The Form 10-K reported that Entergy expected to contribute $185.9 million in 2005 to its pension plans. Entergy has elected to make additional contributions, and now expects to contribute $253.3 million to its pension plans in 2005. Entergy made $6.2 million of this contribution in the first quarter 2005.

Capital Structure

Entergy's capitalization is balanced between equity and debt, as shown in the following table. The increase in the debt to capital percentage as of March 31, 2005 is primarily the result of increased debt outstanding due to additional borrowings on Entergy Corporation's credit facilities along with a decrease in shareholders' equity, primarily due to repurchases of common stock, both of which are discussed below.

 

 

March 31,
2005

December 31,
2004

 

March 31,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net debt to net capital

 

48.1%

45.3%

 

44.8%

 

45.9%

Effect of subtracting cash from debt

 

1.5%

2.1%

 

2.5%

 

1.6%

Debt to capital

 

49.6%

47.4%

 

47.3%

 

47.5%

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

As discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Corporation has in place two separate revolving credit facilities, a five-year credit facility and a three-year credit facility. The five-year credit facility, which expires in December 2009, has a borrowing capacity of $500 million, of which $75 million was outstanding at March 31, 2005. The three-year credit facility, which expires in May 2007, has a borrowing capacity of $965 million, of which $383 million was outstanding at March 31, 2005. Entergy also has the ability to issue letters of credit against the total borrowing capacity of both credit facilities, and $62.5 million had been issued against the three-year facility at March 31, 2005. The total unused capacity for these facilities as of March 31, 2005 was $944.5 million.

In April 2005, Entergy Arkansas renewed its 364-day credit facility through April 2006 and Entergy Mississippi renewed its 364-day credit facility through May 2006. Also, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans extended their 364-day credit facilities through July 2005. Prior to expiration, it is expected that Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans will renew their 364-day credit facilities through May 2006. As of March 31, 2005, no borrowings were outstanding on these credit facilities.

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

Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital

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

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

Regarding the planned Perryville plant acquisition by Entergy Louisiana, the FERC has denied rehearing of its October 2004 order disclaiming jurisdiction over the acquisition. Also, the LPSC hearing on the acquisition scheduled for March 2005 was held and in April 2005 the LPSC approved the acquisition and the long-term cost-of-service purchased power agreement under which Entergy Gulf States will purchase 75 percent of the plant's output. Entergy Louisiana expects the Perryville acquisition to close in mid-2005.

Cash Flow Activity

As shown in Entergy's Statements of Cash Flows, cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$619 

 

$507 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

502 

 

399 

 

Investing activities

 

(568)

 

(137)

 

Financing activities

 

(74)

 

41 

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

 

 

(2)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(140)

 

301 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$479 

 

$808

Operating Cash Flow Activity

Entergy's cash flow provided by operating activities increased by $103 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to an increase in cash flow provided by the U.S. Utility segment. The U. S. Utility provided $390 million in operating cash flow in 2005, compared to providing $301 million in the first quarter of 2004. The increase resulted primarily from the timing of receivable collections and payments to vendors.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased by $431 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to the following activity:

  • Construction expenditures were $29 million higher in 2005 than in 2004, including increases of $14 million in the U.S. Utility business and $16 million in the Non-Utility Nuclear business.
  • The non-nuclear wholesale assets business received $22 million in 2004 from the sale of the Crete power plant.
  • The non-nuclear wholesale assets business received a return of invested capital of $34 million in 2005 from the Top Deer wind power joint venture after Top Deer obtained debt financing.
  • Entergy made an additional capital contribution of approximately $73 million to Entergy-Koch in 2004.
  • Approximately $60 million of the cash collateral for a letter of credit that secured the installment obligations owed to NYPA for the acquisition of the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 nuclear power plants was released to Entergy in 2004.
  • Entergy's investment in temporary investments increased by $289 million during the first quarter 2005 compared to a decrease of $168 million in Entergy's investment in temporary investments during the first quarter of 2004. Entergy expects to liquidate during the second quarter 2005 substantially all of the temporary investments held on March 31, 2005 and expects to invest the proceeds in temporary cash investments. See Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for additional discussion regarding these investments.
  • Entergy Gulf States used $26 million for other regulatory investments in 2004 as a result of fuel cost under-recovery. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the accounting treatment of these fuel cost under-recoveries.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $74 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to providing $41 million in the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to the following activity:

  • Retirements of long-term debt net of issuances by the U.S. Utility segment used $39 million in the first quarter 2005 compared to net issuances providing $78 million in the first quarter 2004. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for the details of long-term debt activity in the first quarter of 2005.
  • Entergy Corporation repurchased $383 million of its common stock in the first quarter 2005. See Part II, Item 2 for details regarding Entergy Corporation's common stock repurchases.
  • In the first quarter 2005, Entergy Corporation increased the net borrowings on its credit facilities by $408 million. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for a description of the Entergy Corporation credit facilities.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

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

State and Local Rate Regulation

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

In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement will result in credits totaling $76 million for retail electricity customers in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana service territory and credits totaling $14 million for retail electricity customers of Entergy Louisiana. The settlement dismisses Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth annual earnings reviews, Entergy Gulf States' ninth post-merger earnings review and revenue requirement analysis, the continuation of a fuel review for Entergy Gulf States, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all pending and future nuclear uprate cases through May 2005, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the System Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agre ement case pending at FERC. In addition, Entergy Gulf States agreed not to seek recovery from customers of $2.0 million of excess refund amounts associated with the fourth through the eighth annual earnings reviews and Entergy Louisiana agreed to forego recovery of $3.5 million of deferred 2003 capacity costs associated with certain power purchase agreements. The credits have been issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana have reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

The settlement includes the establishment of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Gulf States that, among other provisions, establishes a ROE mid-point of 10.65% and permits Entergy Gulf States to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside a 75 basis point bandwidth will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Gulf States. Under the settlement, there is no change to Entergy Gulf States' retail rates at this time. Current rates will remain in place until the first formula rate plan filing in May 2005 and will be reset, if necessary, effective September 1, 2005. If, as a result of the formula rate plan filing in May 2005, Entergy Gulf States is found to have earned an ROE in excess of 10.65% for the 2004 test year, rates will be reset and a refund will be given in an amount sufficient to reduce its ROE to 10.65% effective January 2004.

Regarding Entergy Louisiana's January 2004 rate filing, in March 2005, the LPSC staff and Entergy Louisiana filed a proposed settlement that includes an annual base rate increase of approximately $18.3 million that was implemented, subject to refund, effective with May 2005 billings. The proposed settlement also includes the adoption of a three-year formula rate plan, the terms of which include a ROE mid-point of 10.25% and permit Entergy Louisiana to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an 80 basis point bandwidth will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Louisiana. A decision from the LPSC on the proposed settlement is expected in May 2005.

In April 2005, Entergy Mississippi and the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation regarding Entergy Mississippi's annual formula rate plan filing that provides for no change in rates based on an adjusted return on common equity midpoint of 10.5%, establishing an allowed regulatory earnings range of 9.1% to 11.9%.

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

In February 2005, bills were submitted in the Texas Legislature that would clarify that Entergy Gulf States is no longer subject to a rate freeze and specify that retail open access will not commence in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory until the PUCT certifies a power region. A substitute bill was passed by the Texas House of Representatives in April 2005, and is now being considered by the Texas Senate. The substitute bill changed several provisions of the original bills to address concerns raised in the legislative process. The substitute bill provides that:

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

Federal Regulation

System Agreement Litigation

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

Transmission

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

Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal. Entergy contemplates submitting the necessary filings by the end of May 2005. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy. The intervenors requested that the FERC act on their Request for Clarification by May 4, 2005. The intervenors filed a separate request f or rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

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

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is now scheduled for August 2005.

Interconnection Orders

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

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

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

Utility Restructuring

Retail-Texas

Previous developments and information related to electric industry restructuring are presented in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Refer to "Significant Factors and Known Trends - State and Local Rate Regulation" above for discussion of recent activity at the Texas Legislature.

Federal Legislation

See the Form 10-K for discussion of the comprehensive energy legislation activity in the United States Congress in 2004. In April 2005, the U.S. House of Representatives passed energy legislation containing electricity provisions similar to those discussed in the Form 10-K that were contained in the 2004 legislation, except the 2005 bill passed by the U.S. House does not contain a provision on participant funding. The bill is now pending consideration in the U.S. Senate.

Market and Credit Risks

Commodity Price Risk

As discussed in the Form 10-K, some of the agreements to sell the power produced by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear power plants contain provisions that require an Entergy subsidiary to provide collateral to secure its obligations under the agreements. The Entergy subsidiary may be required to provide collateral based upon the difference between the current market and contracted power prices in the regions where the Non-Utility Nuclear business sells its power.  The primary form of the collateral to satisfy these requirements would be an Entergy Corporation guaranty.  Cash and letters of credit are also acceptable forms of collateral.  At March 31, 2005, based on power prices at that time, Entergy had in place as collateral $698.7 million of Entergy Corporation guarantees, $60.0 million of which support letters of credit. In the event of a decrease in Entergy Corporation's credit rating to specified levels below investment grade, Entergy may be required to replace En tergy Corporation guarantees with cash or letters of credit under some of the agreements.

Critical Accounting Estimates

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

Nuclear Decommissioning Costs

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

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

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

 

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
         
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands, Except Share Data)
         
OPERATING REVENUES        
Domestic electric   $1,744,383    $1,701,327 
Natural gas   86,950    83,816 
Competitive businesses   492,081    466,406 
TOTAL   2,323,414    2,251,549 
         
OPERATING EXPENSES        
Operating and Maintenance:        
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
   gas purchased for resale   580,082    550,127 
  Purchased power   499,778    449,520 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   39,810    41,607 
  Other operation and maintenance   534,666    501,252 
Decommissioning   36,998    38,347 
Taxes other than income taxes   102,989    97,303 
Depreciation and amortization   224,177    210,648 
Other regulatory credits - net   (16,765)   (16,089)
TOTAL   2,001,735    1,872,715 
         
OPERATING INCOME   321,679    378,834 
         
OTHER INCOME        
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   12,884    7,463 
Interest and dividend income   30,890    28,251 
Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates   (2,193)   19,819 
Miscellaneous - net   25,802    5,167 
TOTAL   67,383    60,700 
         
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES        
Interest on long-term debt   110,752    119,460 
Other interest - net   12,164    6,215 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (7,509)   (5,154)
TOTAL   115,407    120,521 
         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   273,655    319,013 
         
Income taxes   95,035    105,997 
         
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME   178,620    213,016 
         
Preferred dividend requirements and other   6,624    5,855 
         
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO        
COMMON STOCK   $171,996    $207,161 
         
Earnings per average common share:        
  Basic   $0.80    $0.90 
  Diluted   $0.79    $0.88 
Dividends declared per common share   $0.54    $0.45 
         
Average number of common shares outstanding:        
  Basic   214,128,023    230,264,638 
  Diluted   218,633,202    234,978,625 
         
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.        

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
         
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
   
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Consolidated net income   $178,620    $213,016 
Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net income to net cash flow        
provided by operating activities:        
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments   16,561    (2,293)
  Other regulatory credits - net   (16,765)   (16,089)
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   261,175    248,996 
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   22,182    31,683 
  Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated equity affiliates - net of dividends   2,193    (19,819)
  Changes in working capital:        
    Receivables   145,581    12,757 
    Fuel inventory   1,011    (11,098)
    Accounts payable   (178,410)   (174,659)
    Taxes accrued   27,849    51,268 
    Interest accrued   (12,303)   2,570 
    Deferred fuel   64,580    59,799 
    Other working capital accounts   (104,789)   15,747 
  Provision for estimated losses and reserves   10,551    11,570 
  Changes in other regulatory assets   14,487    20,013 
  Other   69,021    (44,688)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   501,544    398,773 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction/capital expenditures   (282,070)   (253,075)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   12,884    7,463 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (103,606)   (68,083)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   82,658    51,076 
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses     21,978 
Investment in non-utility properties   (1,476)   (2,791)
Decrease (increase) in other investments   37,280    (15,312)
Purchases of other temporary investments   (1,437,725)   (146,500)
Liquidation of other temporary investments   1,148,725    314,500 
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized change in trust assets   (25,081)   (20,895)
Other regulatory investments     (25,595)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (568,411)   (137,234)
         
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.        
         
 
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
         
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of:        
  Long-term debt   257,545    99,250 
  Common stock and treasury stock   64,280    95,082 
Retirement of long-term debt   (296,314)   (21,232)
Repurchase of common stock   (382,593)   (27,969)
Redemption of preferred stock   (2,250)   (2,250)
Changes in credit line borrowings - net   407,925    4,102 
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (115,504)   (100,229)
  Preferred stock   (6,650)   (5,855)
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   (73,561)   40,899 
         
Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents   44    (1,708)
         
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (140,384)   300,730 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   619,786    507,433 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $479,402    $808,163 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid (received) during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $128,429    $117,721 
  Income taxes   $10,011    ($9,549)
Noncash financing activities:        
  Proceeds from long-term debt issued for the purpose        
   of refunding other long-term debt   $45,000   
         
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.        

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
         
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $73,455    $79,136 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   405,947    540,650 
     Total cash and cash equivalents   479,402    619,786 
Other temporary investments   476,950    187,950 
Notes receivable   2,064    3,092 
Accounts receivable:        
  Customer   365,366    435,191 
  Allowance for doubtful accounts   (21,941)   (23,758)
  Other   346,686    342,289 
  Accrued unbilled revenues   378,070    460,039 
    Total receivables   1,068,181    1,213,761 
Deferred fuel costs   21,331    85,911 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   83,752    76,899 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   126,240    127,251 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   575,671    569,407 
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   116,575    107,782 
Prepayments and other   207,100    116,279 
TOTAL   3,157,266    3,108,118 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   192,333    231,779 
Decommissioning trust funds   2,476,143    2,453,406 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   223,765    219,717 
Other   90,455    90,992 
TOTAL   2,982,696    2,995,894 
          
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT        
Electric   29,192,580    29,053,340 
Property under capital lease   737,638    738,554 
Natural gas   266,867    262,787 
Construction work in progress   1,290,830    1,197,551 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   292,392    262,469 
Nuclear fuel   327,965    320,813 
TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT   32,108,272    31,835,514 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   13,330,130    13,139,883 
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET   18,778,142    18,695,631 
          
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   739,575    746,413 
  Other regulatory assets   1,436,946    1,429,261 
Long-term receivables   38,259    39,417 
Goodwill   377,172    377,172 
Other   916,845    918,871 
TOTAL   3,508,797    3,511,134 
          
TOTAL ASSETS   $28,426,901    $28,310,777 
         
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.        
 
 
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
         
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt   $490,286    $492,564 
Notes payable   118    193 
Accounts payable   718,118    896,528 
Customer deposits   227,568    222,320 
Taxes accrued   255,506    224,011 
Interest accrued   132,175    144,478 
Obligations under capital leases   133,899    133,847 
Other   311,829    218,442 
TOTAL   2,269,499    2,332,383 
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   5,069,208    5,067,381 
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   394,142    399,228 
Obligations under capital leases   175,174    146,060 
Other regulatory liabilities   395,945    329,767 
Decommissioning and retirement cost liabilities   2,077,101    2,066,277 
Transition to competition   79,101    79,101 
Regulatory reserves   29,543    103,061 
Accumulated provisions   563,161    549,914 
Long-term debt   7,444,901    7,016,831 
Preferred stock with sinking fund   15,150    17,400 
Other   1,533,952    1,541,331 
TOTAL   17,777,378    17,316,351 
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
Preferred stock without sinking fund   365,337    365,356 
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000        
  shares; issued 248,174,087 shares in 2005 and in 2004   2,482    2,482 
Paid-in capital   4,826,797    4,835,375 
Retained earnings   5,040,655    4,984,302 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (116,797)   (93,453)
Less - treasury stock, at cost (35,335,147 shares in 2005 and        
  31,345,028 shares in 2004)   1,738,450    1,432,019 
TOTAL   8,014,687    8,296,687 
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $28,426,901    $28,310,777 
         
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.        

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND PAID-IN CAPITAL
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
                 
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
RETAINED EARNINGS                
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period   $4,984,302        $4,502,508     
                 
    Add - Earnings applicable to common stock   171,996    $171,996    207,161    $207,161 
                 
    Deduct:                
      Dividends declared on common stock   115,629        103,762     
      Other   14           
           Total  
115,643 
     
103,762 
   
                 
Retained Earnings - End of period  
$5,040,655 
     
$4,605,907 
   
                 
                 
                 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE                
INCOME (LOSS) (Net of taxes):                
Balance at beginning of period                
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes   ($141,411)       ($25,811)    
  Other accumulated comprehensive income items   47,958        18,016     
     Total  
(93,453)
     
(7,795)
   
                 
                 
Net derivative instrument fair value changes                
 arising during the period   (20,035)   (20,035)   (16,186)   (16,186)
                 
Foreign currency translation adjustments   (44)   (44)   1,708    1,708 
                 
Minimum pension liability   (2,053)   (2,053)    
                 
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)  
(1,212)
 
(1,212)
 
28,766 
 
28,766 
                 
Balance at end of period:                
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes   (161,446)       (41,997)    
  Other accumulated comprehensive income items   44,649        48,490     
    Total  
($116,797)
     
$6,493 
   
Comprehensive Income      
$148,652 
     
$221,449 
                 
                 
                 
PAID-IN CAPITAL                
Paid-in Capital - Beginning of period   $4,835,375        $4,767,615     
                 
    Add: Common stock issuances related to stock plans  
(8,578)
     
24,556 
   
                 
Paid-in Capital - End of period  
$4,826,797 
     
$4,792,171 
   
                 
                 
                 
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.                

 

 ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
                 
                 
            Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
   

(Dollars in Millions)

   
   

 

   
U. S. Utility Electric Operating Revenues:  

 

   
                 
  Residential   $622    $609   $13   
  Commercial   462    435   27   
  Industrial   556    514   42   
  Governmental   45    44    
    Total retail   1,685    1,602   83   
  Sales for resale   95    99   (4)   (4)
  Other   (36)   -   (36)   - - 
    Total   $1,744    $1,701   $43   
                 
U. S. Utility Billed Electric Energy                
  Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   7,570    7,726   (156)   (2)
  Commercial   5,990    5,887   103   
  Industrial   9,596    9,490   106   
  Governmental   609    600    
    Total retail   23,765    23,703   62    - - 
  Sales for resale   1,732    2,418   (686)   (28)
    Total   25,497    26,121   (624)   (2)
                 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Nuclear Insurance

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

Nuclear Decommissioning and Other Retirement Costs

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

Income Taxes

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

CashPoint Bankruptcy

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

Employment Litigation

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

 

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS

Retail Rate Proceedings

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

Filings with the LPSC

Global Settlement (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement will result in credits totaling $76 million for retail electricity customers in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana service territory and credits totaling $14 million for retail electricity customers of Entergy Louisiana. The settlement dismisses Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth annual earnings reviews, Entergy Gulf States' ninth post-merger earnings review and revenue requirement

analysis, the continuation of a fuel review for Entergy Gulf States, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all pending and future nuclear uprate cases through May 2005, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the System Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agreement case pending at FERC. In addition, Entergy Gulf States agreed not to seek recovery from customers of $2.0 million of excess refund amounts associated with the fourth through the eighth annual earnings reviews and Entergy Louisiana agreed to forego recovery of $3.5 million of deferred 2003 capacity costs associated with certain power purchase agreements. The credits have been issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana have reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

The settlement includes the establishment of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Gulf States that, among other provisions, establishes a ROE mid-point of 10.65% and permits Entergy Gulf States to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside a 75 basis point bandwidth will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Gulf States. Under the settlement, there is no change to Entergy Gulf States' retail rates at this time. Current rates will remain in place until the first formula rate plan filing in May 2005 and will be reset, if necessary, effective September 1, 2005. If, as a result of the formula rate plan filing in May 2005, Entergy Gulf States is found to have earned an ROE in excess of 10.65% for the 2004 test year, rates will be reset and a refund will be given in an amount sufficient to reduce its ROE to 10.65% effective January 2004.

Retail Rates (Entergy Louisiana)

See Note 2 to consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of Entergy Louisiana's rate filing with the LPSC requesting a base rate increase. In March 2005, the LPSC staff and Entergy Louisiana filed a proposed settlement that includes an annual base rate increase of approximately $18.3 million which was implemented, subject to refund, effective with May 2005 billings. The proposed settlement also includes the adoption of a three-year formula rate plan, the terms of which include a ROE mid-point of 10.25% and permit Entergy Louisiana to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an 80 basis point bandwidth will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Louisiana. A decision from the LPSC on the proposed settlement is expected in May 2005.

Filings with the City Council (Entergy New Orleans)

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

Deferred Fuel Costs

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

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

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

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K, in August 2000, the LPSC authorized its staff to initiate a proceeding to audit the fuel adjustment clause filings of Entergy Louisiana pursuant to a November 1997 LPSC general order. The time period that is the subject of the audit is January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001. In September 2003, the LPSC staff issued its audit report and recommended a disallowance with regard to one item. The issue relates to the alleged failure to uprate Waterford 3 in a timely manner, a claim that also has been raised in the summer 2001, 2002, and 2003 purchased power proceedings. The settlement approved by the LPSC in March 2005, discussed above, resolves the uprate imprudence disallowance and is no longer at issue in this proceeding.

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

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

Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71

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

Texas

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

In February 2005, bills were submitted in the Texas Legislature that would clarify that Entergy Gulf States is no longer subject to a rate freeze and specify that retail open access will not commence in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory until the PUCT certifies a power region. A substitute bill was passed by the Texas House of Representatives in April 2005, and is now being considered by the Texas Senate. The substitute bill changed several provisions of the original bills to address concerns raised in the legislative process. The substitute bill provides that:

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

 

NOTE 3. COMMON EQUITY

Common Stock

Earnings per Share

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

 

 

For the Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Millions, Except Per Share Data)

 

 

 

 

$/share

 

 

 

$/share

Earnings applicable to common stock

 

$172.0

 

 

 

$207.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average number of common shares outstanding - basic

 


214.1

 


$0.80 

 


230.3

 


$0.90 

Average dilutive effect of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stock Options

 

4.3

 

(0.016)

 

4.5

 

(0.017)

 

Deferred Units

 

0.2

 

(0.001)

 

0.2

 

(0.001)

Average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

 


218.6

 


$0.79 

 


235.0

 


$0.88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

During the first quarter of 2005, Entergy Corporation issued 1,603,481 shares of its previously repurchased common stock to satisfy stock option exercises and other stock-based awards. During the first quarter of 2005, Entergy Corporation repurchased 5,593,600 shares of common stock for a total purchase price of $382.6 million.

Retained Earnings

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

 

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

Entergy Corporation has in place two separate revolving credit facilities, a five-year credit facility and a three-year credit facility. The five-year credit facility, which expires in December 2009, has a borrowing capacity of $500 million, of which $75 million was outstanding at March 31, 2005. The three-year credit facility, which expires in May 2007, has a borrowing capacity of $965 million, of which $383 million was outstanding at March 31, 2005. Entergy also has the ability to issue letters of credit against the total borrowing capacity of both credit facilities, and $62.5 million had been issued against the three-year facility at March 31, 2005. The total unused capacity for these facilities as of March 31, 2005 was $944.5 million. The commitment fee for these facilities is currently 0.13% of the line amount. Commitment fees and interest rates on loans under the credit facilities can fluctuate depending on the senior debt ratings of the domestic utility companies.

The short-term borrowings of Entergy's subsidiaries are limited to amounts authorized by the SEC. The current limits authorized are effective through November 30, 2007. In addition to borrowing from commercial banks, Entergy's subsidiaries are authorized to borrow from Entergy's money pool. The money pool is an inter-company borrowing arrangement designed to reduce Entergy's subsidiaries' dependence on external short-term borrowings. Borrowings from the money pool and external borrowings combined may not exceed the SEC authorized limits. As of March 31, 2005, Entergy's subsidiaries' aggregate authorized limit was $1.6 billion and the outstanding borrowings from the money pool were $117.1 million.

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


Company

 


Expiration Date

 

Amount of
Facility

 

Amount Drawn as of
March 31, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Entergy Arkansas

 

April 2006

 

$85 million

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

July 2005

 

$15 million (a)

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2006

 

$25 million

 

-

Entergy New Orleans

 

July 2005

 

$14 million (a)

 

-

(a)

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

In April 2005, Entergy Arkansas renewed its 364-day credit facility through April 2006 and Entergy Mississippi renewed its 364-day credit facility through May 2006. Also, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans extended their 364-day credit facilities through July 2005. Prior to expiration, it is expected that Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans will renew their 364-day credit facilities through May 2006.

The 364-day credit facilities have variable interest rates and the average commitment fee is 0.13%. The Entergy Arkansas facility requires it to maintain total shareholders' equity of at least 25% of its total assets.

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

 

Issue Date

 

Amount

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

U.S. Utility

 

 

 

Mortgage Bonds:

 

 

 

5.66% Series due February 2025 - Entergy Arkansas

January 2005

 

$175,000

6.18% Series due March 2035 - Entergy Gulf States

February 2005

 

$85,000

Governmental Bonds:

 

 

 

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

March 2005

 

$45,000

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

 

Retirement Date

 

Amount

 

 

 

(In Thousands)

U.S. Utility

 

 

 

Mortgage Bonds:

 

 

 

7.00% Series due October 2023 - Entergy Arkansas

February 2005 

 

$175,000

Other Long-term Debt:

 

 

 

Grand Gulf Lease Obligation payment

N/A

 

$28,790

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

March 2005

 

$87,629

Retirements after the balance sheet date:

 

 

 

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

May 2005

 

$45,000

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

May 2005

 

$41,600

Entergy Arkansas used the proceeds from the March 2005 issuance to redeem, prior to maturity, $45 million of 6.25% Series of Independence County bonds in April 2005. The issuance is shown as a non-cash transaction on the cash flow statement since the proceeds were placed in a trust and never held as cash by Entergy Arkansas.

NOTE 5. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

Entergy grants stock options, which are described more fully in Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K. Effective January 1, 2003, Entergy prospectively adopted the fair value based method of accounting for stock options prescribed by SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Prior to 2003, Entergy applied the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations in accounting for those plans. Awards under Entergy's plans vest over three years. Therefore, the cost related to stock-based employee compensation included in the determination of net income for 2004 is less than that which would have been recognized if the fair value based method had been applied to all awards since the original effective date of SFAS 123. There is no pro forma effect for the first quarter 2005 because all non-vested awards are accounted for at fair value. Stock-based compensation expense in cluded in earnings applicable to common stock, net of related tax effects, for the first quarter 2005 is $1.8 million. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share for 2004 if Entergy would have historically applied the fair value based method of accounting to stock-based employee compensation.

   

First Quarter
2004

   

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

     

Earnings applicable to common stock

 

$207,161

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

 



973

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

 



3,855

     

Pro forma earnings applicable to common stock

 

$204,279

     

Earnings per average common share:

   
 

Basic

 

$0.90

 

Basic - pro forma

 

$0.89

       
 

Diluted

 

$0.88

 

Diluted - pro forma

 

$0.87

       

NOTE 6. RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Components of Net Pension Cost

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

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$21,447 

 

$18,735 

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

 

38,632 

 

36,015 

Expected return on assets

 

(39,513)

 

(38,725)

Amortization of transition asset

 

(165)

 

(191)

Amortization of prior service cost

 

1,362 

 

1,413 

Amortization of loss

 

7,457 

 

4,401 

Net pension costs

 

$29,220 

 

$21,648 

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefit Cost

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

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost - benefits earned during the period

 

$9,400 

 

$9,708 

Interest cost on APBO

 

14,290 

 

14,297 

Expected return on assets

 

(4,942)

 

(4,702)

Amortization of transition obligation

 

175 

 

1,242 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

(1,979)

 

(889)

Amortization of loss

 

7,083 

 

5,954 

Net other postretirement benefit cost

 

$24,027 

 

$25,610 

Employer Contributions

Entergy previously disclosed in the Form 10-K that it expected to contribute $185.9 million to its pension plans in 2005. Entergy has elected to make additional contributions of $67.4 million to the plan for a total of $253.3 million in 2005. As of March 31, 2005, Entergy contributed $6.2 million to its pension plans. The April 2005 contribution was $111.5 million. Therefore, Entergy presently anticipates contributing an additional $135.6 million to fund its pension plans in 2005.

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

Based on actuarial analysis, the estimated impact of future Medicare subsidies reduced the December 31, 2004 Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation by $161 million, and reduced the first quarter 2005 and 2004 other postretirement benefit cost by $6.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively. Refer to Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion.

 

NOTE 7. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

Entergy's reportable segments as of March 31, 2005 are U.S. Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear. "All Other" includes the parent company, Entergy Corporation, and other business activity, including the Energy Commodity Services segment, the Competitive Retail Services business, and earnings on the proceeds of sales of previously-owned businesses. The Energy Commodity Services segment was presented as a reportable segment prior to 2005, but it did not meet the quantitative thresholds for a reportable segment in 2004 and, with the sale of Entergy-Koch's businesses in 2004, management does not expect the Energy Commodity Services segment to meet the quantitative thresholds in the foreseeable future. The 2004 information in the table below has been restated to include the Energy Commodity Services segment in the All Other column.

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

 



U. S. Utility

 


Non-Utility
Nuclear*

 



All Other*

 



Eliminations

 



Consolidated

(In Thousands)

2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$1,831,800 

 

$343,575 

 

$165,099 

 

($17,060)

 

$2,323,414 

Equity in earnings of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 unconsolidated equity affiliates

 

 

(2,193)

 

 

(2,193)

Income Taxes (Benefit)

49,049 

 

51,168 

 

(5,182)

 

 

95,035 

Net Income

96,268 

 

77,965 

 

4,460 

 

(73)

 

178,620 

Total Assets

22,986,894 

 

4,631,292 

 

3,288,980 

 

(2,480,265)

 

28,426,901 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Revenues

$1,785,518 

 

$344,848

 

$136,553 

 

($15,370)

 

$2,251,549

Equity in earnings of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 unconsolidated equity affiliates

 

-

 

19,819 

 

 

19,819

Income Taxes (Benefit)

72,678 

 

43,695

 

(10,376)

 

 

105,997

Net Income

121,513 

 

68,833

 

22,670 

 

 

213,016

Total Assets

22,497,775 

 

4,440,348

 

3,411,517 

 

(1,484,892)

 

28,864,748

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

 

NOTE 8. OTHER TEMPORARY INVESTMENTS

The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2004 reflects a reclassification from cash and cash equivalents to other temporary investments of $188 million of instruments used in Entergy's cash management program. This reclassification is to present certain highly-liquid auction rate securities as short-term investments rather than as cash equivalents due to the stated tenor of the maturities of these investments. Entergy actively invests its available cash balance in financial instruments, including auction rate securities that have stated maturities of 20 years or more. The auction rate securities provide a high degree of liquidity through features such as 7 and 28 day auctions that allow for the redemption of the securities at their face amount plus earned interest. Because Entergy intends to sell these instruments within one year or less, typically within 28 days of the balance sheet date, they are classified as current assets. A corresponding change was made to the consolidated statement of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2004 resulting in reductions of $67 million and $185 million in the amounts presented as cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2004 and December 31, 2003.

__________________________________

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

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Results of Operations

Net Income

Net income increased $12.7 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to higher net revenue.

Net Revenue

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

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$206.8 

Deferred fuel cost revisions

 

15.5 

Other

 

1.4 

2005 net revenue

 

$223.7 

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

Fuel and purchased power expenses

Fuel and purchased power expenses decreased primarily due to decreased deferred fuel costs resulting primarily from the true-ups to the 2004 and 2003 energy cost recovery rider filings.

Other Income Statement Variances

Other income increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $2.3 million in interest and dividend income primarily due to interest of $1.0 million earned on temporary cash investments in 2005 and interest of $0.6 million earned on bond proceeds; and
  • an increase of $1.8 million in the allowance for equity funds used during construction primarily due to increased construction expenditures resulting from the steam generator and reactor vessel head replacement at ANO 1.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 35.2% and 40.5%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items in addition to state income taxes net of federal, offset by a downward revision in the estimate of federal income tax expense for prior tax periods. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items in addition to state income taxes net of federal.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$89,744 

 

$8,834 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

143,480 

 

69,392 

 

Investing activities

 

(52,606)

 

(49,922)

 

Financing activities

 

(18,575)

 

(10,244)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

72,299 

 

9,226 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$162,043 

 

$18,060 

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operations increased $74.1 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to money pool activity, the timing of the collection of receivables from customers, and an increase in net income.

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

March 31,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

March 31,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$28,252

 

$23,561

 

($42,926)

 

($69,153)

Money pool activity used $4.7 million of Entergy Arkansas' operating cash flows in the first quarter of 2005 and used $26.2 million in the first quarter of 2004. See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

Investing Activities

Net cash flow used in investing activities increased $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to increased construction expenditures resulting from the steam generator and reactor vessel head replacement at ANO 1.

Financing Activities

Net cash flow used in financing activities increased $8.3 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to a $4.4 million call premium paid on the early redemption of the 7.0% Series of First Mortgage Bonds in February 2005 and the payment of $1.9 million more in common stock dividends. See Note 3 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements for details of Entergy Arkansas' long-term debt activity in 2005.

Uses and Sources of Capital

See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Arkansas' uses and sources of capital. Following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

In April 2005, Entergy Arkansas renewed its 364-day credit facility through April 30, 2006. The amount available under the credit facility is $85 million, of which none was drawn at March 31, 2005.

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

Issue Date

 

Description

 

Maturity

 

Amount

           

(In Thousands)

             

January 2005

 

5.66% Series

 

February 2025

 

$175,000

March 2005

 

5.00% Series

 

January 2021

 

$45,000

The proceeds from the January 2005 issuance were used to redeem First Mortgage Bonds as follows:

Retirement Date

 


Description

 


Maturity

 


Amount

           

(In Thousands)

             

February 2005

 

7.00% Series

 

October 2023

 

$175,000

Entergy Arkansas used the proceeds from the March 2005 issuance to redeem, prior to maturity, $45 million of 6.25% Series of Independence County bonds in April 2005. The issuance is shown as a non-cash transaction on the cash flow statement since the proceeds were placed in a trust and never held as cash by Entergy Arkansas.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of utility restructuring, federal regulation and proceedings, market and credit risks, state and local rate regulatory risks, nuclear matters, and environmental risks. Following are updates to the information presented in the Form 10-K.

Federal Regulation

Transmission

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

Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal. Entergy contemplates submitting the necessary filings by the end of May 2005. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy. The intervenors requested that the FERC act on their Request for Clarification by May 4, 2005. The intervenors filed a separate request f or rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

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

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is now scheduled for August 2005.

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceeding

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

Critical Accounting Estimates

See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy Arkansas' accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, unbilled revenue, and pension and other postretirement benefits.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

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

 

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING REVENUES        
Domestic electric   $367,360    $363,461 
         
OPERATING EXPENSES        
Operation and Maintenance:        
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
   gas purchased for resale   36,803    59,787 
  Purchased power   107,632    102,328 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   6,317    6,337 
  Other operation and maintenance   85,829    84,441 
Decommissioning   8,113    9,344 
Taxes other than income taxes   9,837    8,396 
Depreciation and amortization   51,777    49,668 
Other regulatory credits - net   (795)   (5,406)
TOTAL   305,513    314,895 
         
OPERATING INCOME   61,847    48,566 
         
OTHER INCOME        
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   3,959    2,193 
Interest and dividend income   4,292    2,022 
Miscellaneous - net   (632)   (1,050)
TOTAL   7,619    3,165 
         
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
Interest on long-term debt   20,782    19,748 
Other interest - net   1,426    883 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (2,011)   (1,301)
TOTAL   20,197    19,330 
         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   49,269    32,401 
         
Income taxes   17,338    13,125 
         
NET INCOME   31,931    19,276 
         
Preferred dividend requirements and other   1,944    1,944 
         
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO        
COMMON STOCK   $29,987    $17,332 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $31,931    $19,276 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
 Reserve for regulatory adjustments   (791)   175 
 Other regulatory credits - net   (795)   (5,406)
 Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   59,890    59,012 
 Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   11,865    37,822 
 Changes in working capital:        
   Receivables   53,154    4,917 
   Fuel inventory   (10,013)   (12,628)
   Accounts payable   14,503    (47,474)
   Taxes accrued   12,447    (12,647)
   Interest accrued   1,621    4,508 
   Deferred fuel costs   (9,431)   13,222 
   Other working capital accounts   (59,926)   (13,069)
 Provision for estimated losses and reserves   (378)   (3,921)
 Changes in other regulatory assets   15,917    7,445 
 Other   23,486    18,160 
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   143,480    69,392 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (54,718)   (50,251)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   3,959    2,193 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (39,615)   - - 
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   39,615    - - 
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized        
  change in trust assets   (1,847)   (1,864)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (52,606)   (49,922)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   173,464    - - 
Retirement of long-term debt   (179,895)   - - 
Dividends paid:        
 Common stock   (10,200)   (8,300)
 Preferred stock   (1,944)   (1,944)
Net cash flow used in financing activities   (18,575)   (10,244)
         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   72,299    9,226 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   89,744    8,834 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $162,043    $18,060 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid/(received) during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $18,522    $13,357 
  Income taxes   - -    ($5,400)
Noncash financing activities:        
  Proceeds from long-term debt issued for the purpose        
   of refunding other long-term debt   $45,000    - - 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
         
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
 Cash   $3,220    $7,133 
 Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
   which approximates market   158,823    82,611 
        Total cash and cash equivalents   162,043    89,744 
Accounts receivable:        
 Customer   69,358    87,131 
 Allowance for doubtful accounts   (10,994)   (11,039)
 Associated companies   64,895    72,472 
 Other   59,528    72,425 
 Accrued unbilled revenues   56,691    71,643 
   Total accounts receivable   239,478    292,632 
Deferred fuel costs   16,799    7,368 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   16,552    27,306 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   14,311    4,298 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   85,252    85,076 
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   29,446    16,485 
Prepayments and other   53,571    6,154 
TOTAL   617,452    529,063 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
Investment in affiliates - at equity   11,208    11,208 
Decommissioning trust funds   384,541    383,784 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   1,452    1,453 
Other   2,976    2,976 
TOTAL   400,177    399,421 
         
UTILITY PLANT        
Electric   6,142,908    6,124,359 
Property under capital lease   16,598    17,500 
Construction work in progress   254,219    226,172 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   92,576    93,855 
Nuclear fuel   10,960    12,201 
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   6,517,261    6,474,087 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   2,795,780    2,753,525 
UTILITY PLANT - NET   3,721,481    3,720,562 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
Regulatory assets:        
 SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   92,201    101,658 
 Other regulatory assets   406,066    400,174 
Other   45,982    42,514 
TOTAL   544,249    544,346 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $5,283,359    $5,193,392 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
 
 
ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Currently maturing long-term debt   $147,000   $147,000
Accounts payable:        
  Associated companies   76,335   68,829
  Other   96,893   89,896
Customer deposits   42,962   41,639
Taxes accrued   63,613   35,874
Interest accrued   22,997   21,376
Obligations under capital leases   49,871   49,816
Other   18,953   19,648
TOTAL   518,624   474,078
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   1,099,883   1,121,623
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   67,339   68,452
Obligations under capital leases   59,303   61,538
Other regulatory liabilities   66,271   67,362
Decommissioning   500,857   492,745
Accumulated provisions   34,599   34,977
Long-term debt   1,239,717   1,191,763
Other   233,572   237,447
TOTAL   3,301,541   3,275,907
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
Preferred stock without sinking fund   116,350   116,350
Common stock, $0.01 par value, authorized 325,000,000        
  shares; issued and outstanding 46,980,196 shares in 2005        
  and 2004   470   470
Paid-in capital   591,127   591,127
Retained earnings   755,247   735,460
TOTAL   1,463,194   1,443,407
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $5,283,359   $5,193,392
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004

(Unaudited)

                 
                 
            Increase/    

Description

 

2005

 

2004

 

(Decrease)

 

%

    (Dollars In Millions)    
Electric Operating Revenues:                
 Residential   $ 135    $ 131    $ 4    3 
 Commercial   69    65    4    6 
 Industrial   72    68    4    6 
 Governmental   4    4    -    - - 
    Total retail   280    268    12    4 
 Sales for resale                
   Associated companies   41    54    (13)   (24)
   Non-associated companies   51    45    6    13 
Other   (5)   (4)   (1)   (25)
  Total   $ 367    $ 363    $ 4    1 
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
 Sales (GWh):                
   Residential   1,890    1,889    1    - - 
   Commercial   1,249    1,213    36    3 
   Industrial   1,664    1,647    17    1 
   Governmental   68    64    4    6 
      Total retail   4,871    4,813    58    1 
   Sales for resale                
      Associated companies   1,355    1,672    (317)   (19)
      Non-associated companies   1,107    1,273    (166)   (13)
      Total   7,333    7,758    (425)   (5)
                 

 

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

Results of Operations

Net Income

Net income decreased $18.4 million for the first quarter of 2005 primarily due to lower net revenue and higher other operation and maintenance expenses, partially offset by lower interest expense and a lower effective income tax rate.

Net Revenue

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

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$262.7 

Volume/weather

 

(12.5)

Price applied to unbilled sales

 

(11.3)

Rate refund provisions

 

4.2 

Other

 

(1.4)

2005 net revenue

 

$241.7 

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

The price applied to unbilled sales variance results primarily from a decrease in the fuel price applied to unbilled sales.

The rate refund provisions variance is due to provisions recorded in the first quarter of 2004 for potential rate actions and refunds.

Gross operating revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses

Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to an increase of $57.1 million in fuel cost recovery revenues due to higher fuel rates, partially offset by the volume/weather variance and unbilled pricing variance discussed above.

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to increased recovery from customers of deferred fuel costs and an increase in the market price of purchased power, partially offset by a decrease in demand.

Other Income Statement Variances

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased $16.9 million primarily due to increases of:

  • $4.8 million in nuclear and fossil generation expenses primarily due to both planned off-peak and unplanned maintenance outage costs;
  • $3.7 million in benefit costs;
  • $2.7 million in general liability and workers compensation provisions; and
  • $2.1 million in customer service costs, including vegetation management spending.

Other regulatory credits decreased $2.9 million primarily due to the deferral in 2004 of a gas facility charge related to lower throughput and 2004 credits related to asset retirement obligations.

Interest and other charges decreased $8.1 million primarily due to the retirement of $292 million of First Mortgage Bonds in 2004.

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rates for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 19.6% and 31.9%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to a downward revision in the estimate of federal income tax expense for prior tax periods, book and tax differences related to utility plant items, and flow-through book and tax timing differences. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items and the amortization of investment tax credits.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Cash Flow

Cash flows for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

 

 

2005

 

2004

 

 

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

$6,974 

 

$206,030 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

 

 

 

 

 

Operating activities

 

72,275 

 

57,133 

 

Investing activities

 

(62,556)

 

(59,351)

 

Financing activities

 

(11,220)

 

(10,300)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(1,501)

 

(12,518)

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$5,473 

 

$193,512 

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operations increased $15.1 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to an increase in the collection of customer receivables. The increase was partially offset by money pool activity, which used $40.1 million of Entergy Gulf States' operating cash flows in the first quarter of 2005 compared to using $20.9 million in the first quarter of 2004. Entergy Gulf States' receivables from or (payables to) the money pool were as follows:

March 31,
2005

 

December 31,
2004

 

March 31,
2004

 

December 31,
2003

(In Thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($19,630)

 

($59,720)

 

$90,270

 

$69,354

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

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities increased $3.2 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period of 2004 primarily due to the maturity in 2004 of $23.6 million of other investments that provided cash in 2004 as well as an increase in construction expenditures of $9.9 million in 2005 primarily related to transmission reliability and fossil projects. The increase was partially offset by $25.6 million for other regulatory investments in 2004 as a result of fuel cost under-recovery. See Note 1 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the accounting for fuel costs.

Uses and Sources of Capital

See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Gulf States' uses and sources of capital. Following is an update to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

In February 2005, Entergy Gulf States issued $85 million of 6.18% Series of First Mortgage Bonds due March 2035. Entergy Gulf States used the proceeds to redeem, in March 2005, $87.6 million of 8.75% Series Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due March 2046.

In May 2005, Entergy Gulf States redeemed, prior to maturity, $45 million of 9.0% Series of West Feliciana Parish bonds and $41.6 million of 7.5% Series of West Feliciana Parish bonds.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

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

State and Local Rate Regulation

In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement will result in credits of $76 million to retail electricity customers in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana service territory. The settlement dismisses Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth annual earnings reviews, Entergy Gulf States' ninth post-merger earnings review and revenue requirement analysis, the continuation of a fuel review for Entergy Gulf States, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all pending and future nuclear uprate cases through May 2005, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the System Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agreement case pending at FERC. In addition, Entergy Gulf States agreed not to seek recovery from customers of $2.0 million of excess refun d amounts associated with the fourth through the eighth annual earnings reviews. The credits will be issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Gulf States has previously reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

The settlement includes the establishment of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Gulf States that, among other provisions, establishes an ROE mid-point of 10.65% and permits Entergy Gulf States to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside a 75 basis point bandwidth will be allocated 60% to the customers and 40% to Entergy Gulf States. Under the settlement, there is no change to Entergy Gulf States' retail rates at this time. Current rates will remain in place until the first formula rate plan filing in May 2005 and will be reset, if necessary, effective September 1, 2005. If, as a result of the formula rate plan filing in May 2005, Entergy Gulf States is found to have earned an ROE in excess of 10.65% for the 2004 test year, rates will be reset and a refund will be given in an amount sufficient to reduce its ROE to 10.65% effective January 2004.

Federal Regulation

System Agreement Litigation

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

Transmission

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

Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal. Entergy contemplates submitting the necessary filings by the end of May 2005. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy. The intervenors requested that the FERC act on their Request for Clarification by May 4, 2005. The intervenors filed a separate request f or rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

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

In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is now scheduled for August 2005.

Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

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

Transition to Retail Competition

See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the status of retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory and Entergy Gulf States' independent organization request.

In February 2005, bills were submitted in the Texas Legislature that would clarify that Entergy Gulf States is no longer subject to a rate freeze and specify that retail open access will not commence in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory until the PUCT certifies a power region. A substitute bill was passed by the Texas House of Representatives in April 2005, and is now being considered by the Texas Senate. The substitute bill changed several provisions of the original bills to address concerns raised in the legislative process. The substitute bill provides that:

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

Critical Accounting Estimates

See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy Gulf States' accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, SFAS 143, the application of SFAS 71, unbilled revenue, and pension and other postretirement benefits.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

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

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
INCOME STATEMENTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
  
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING REVENUES        
Domestic electric   $652,395     $612,371  
Natural gas   26,855     26,625  
TOTAL   679,250     638,996  
         
OPERATING EXPENSES        
Operation and Maintenance:        
  Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
    gas purchased for resale   219,956    177,713 
  Purchased power   217,736    201,654 
  Nuclear refueling outage expenses   4,071    3,193 
  Other operation and maintenance   108,693    91,829 
  Decommissioning   2,298    3,730 
Taxes other than income taxes   30,538    29,722 
Depreciation and amortization   48,736    45,868 
Other regulatory credits - net   (121)   (3,025)
TOTAL   631,907    550,684 
         
OPERATING INCOME   47,343    88,312 
         
OTHER INCOME        
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   4,799    2,520 
Interest and dividend income   3,435    3,849 
Miscellaneous - net   651    1,884 
TOTAL   8,885    8,253 
         
INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
Interest on long-term debt   28,225    35,388 
Other interest - net   1,985    1,814 
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (3,006)   (1,914)
TOTAL   27,204    35,288 
         
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   29,024    61,277 
         
Income taxes   5,675    19,549 
         
NET INCOME   23,349     41,728 
         
Preferred dividend requirements and other   1,063     1,150 
         
EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO        
COMMON STOCK   $22,286    $40,578 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
         
OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
Net income   $23,349    $41,728 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by
operating activities:
       
 Reserve for regulatory adjustments   11,848    4,407 
 Other regulatory credits - net   (121)   (3,025)
 Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   51,034    49,598 
 Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   4,346    3,885 
 Changes in working capital:        
   Receivables   21,439    (22,442)
   Fuel inventory   5,864    (1,298)
   Accounts payable   (79,017)   (69,718)
   Taxes accrued   (6,108)   13,369 
   Interest accrued   1,917    7,262 
   Deferred fuel costs   33,983    32,206 
   Other working capital accounts   (10,142)   27,274 
 Provision for estimated losses and reserves   623    403 
 Changes in other regulatory assets   5,879    875 
 Other   7,381    (27,391)
Net cash flow provided by operating activities   72,275    57,133 
         
INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
Construction expenditures   (66,813)   (56,889)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction   4,799    2,520 
Nuclear fuel purchases   (2)   (5,616)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   54    5,616 
Investment in subsidiaries      
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized        
  change in trust assets   (3,223)   (2,966)
Changes in other investments - net   2,629    23,579 
Other regulatory investments     (25,595)
Net cash flow used in investing activities   (62,556)   (59,351)
         
FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   84,148   
Retirement of long-term debt   (87,629)  
Redemption of preferred stock   (2,250)   (2,250)
Dividends paid:        
  Common stock   (4,400)   (6,900)
  Preferred stock   (1,089)   (1,150)
Net cash flow used in financing activities   (11,220)   (10,300)
         
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (1,501)   (12,518)
         
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   6,974    206,030 
         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $5,473    $193,512 
         
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
Cash paid during the period for:        
  Interest - net of amount capitalized   $26,465    $33,346 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
ASSETS
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
     
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
       
CURRENT ASSETS        
Cash and cash equivalents:        
  Cash   $3,749    $5,627 
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
    which approximates market   1,724    1,347 
        Total cash and cash equivalents   5,473    6,974 
  Accounts receivable:        
    Customer   100,722    124,801 
    Allowance for doubtful accounts   (1,968)   (2,687)
    Associated companies   42,841    13,980 
    Other   41,005    40,697 
    Accrued unbilled revenues   110,471    137,719 
      Total accounts receivable   293,071    314,510 
Deferred fuel costs   56,141    90,124 
Accumulated deferred income taxes   27,425    14,339 
Fuel inventory - at average cost   43,794    49,658 
Materials and supplies - at average cost   103,104    101,922 
Prepayments and other   25,957    20,556 
TOTAL   554,965    598,083 
         
OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS      
Decommissioning trust funds   293,909    290,952 
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   93,722    94,052 
Other   20,088    22,012 
TOTAL   407,719    407,016 
         
UTILITY PLANT      
Electric   8,449,863    8,418,119 
Natural gas   80,191    78,627 
Construction work in progress   356,073    331,703 
Nuclear fuel under capital lease   66,532    71,279 
TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   8,952,659    8,899,728 
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   4,086,881    4,047,182 
UTILITY PLANT - NET   4,865,778    4,852,546 
         
DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS      
Regulatory assets:        
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   444,421    444,799 
  Other regulatory assets   281,213    285,017 
Long-term receivables   22,069    23,228 
Other   41,365    44,713 
TOTAL   789,068    797,757 
         
TOTAL ASSETS   $6,617,530    $6,655,402 
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
 
 
ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
(Unaudited)
   
  2005   2004
  (In Thousands)
 
CURRENT LIABILITIES      
Currently maturing long-term debt   $98,000   $98,000
Accounts payable:        
  Associated companies   115,386   153,069
  Other   106,003   147,337
Customer deposits   54,910   53,229
Taxes accrued   33,416   22,882
Accumulated deferred income taxes       - -
Interest accrued   34,659   32,742
Deferred fuel costs   - -   - -
Obligations under capital leases   33,516   33,518
Global Settlement refund   76,079   - -
Other   14,647   19,912
TOTAL   566,616   560,689
         
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES      
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   1,536,567   1,533,804
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   137,189   138,616
Obligations under capital leases   33,016   37,711
Other regulatory liabilities   44,849   34,009
Decommissioning and retirement cost liabilities   155,442   152,095
Transition to competition   79,098   79,098
Regulatory reserves   17,224   81,455
Accumulated provisions   68,710   66,875
Long-term debt   1,888,820   1,891,478
Preferred stock with sinking fund   15,150   17,400
Other   224,191   229,408
TOTAL   4,200,256   4,261,949
         
Commitments and Contingencies        
         
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY      
Preferred stock without sinking fund   47,327   47,327
Common stock, no par value, authorized 200,000,000        
  shares; issued and outstanding 100 shares in 2005 and 2004   114,055   114,055
Paid-in capital   1,157,486   1,157,486
Retained earnings   531,068   513,182
Accumulated other comprehensive income   722   714
TOTAL   1,850,658   1,832,764
         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $6,617,530   $6,655,402
         
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
         

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
                 
     
    2005   2004
    (In Thousands)
RETAINED EARNINGS                
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period   $513,182       $419,690     
                 
    Add: Net Income   23,349   $23,349   41,728    $41,728 
                 
    Deduct:                
      Dividends declared on common stock   4,400       6,900     
      Preferred dividend requirements and other   1,063   1,063   1,150    1,150 
    5,463       8,050     
                 
Retained Earnings - End of period  
$531,068
     
$453,368 
   
                 
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE                
INCOME (Net of Taxes):                
Balance at beginning of period:                
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes   $714       $3,912     
                 
Net derivative instrument fair value changes                
 arising during the period   8   8   (543)   (543)
                 
Balance at end of period:                
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes  
$722
     
$3,369 
   
Comprehensive Income      
$22,294
     
$40,035 
                 
                 
See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.                
                 

 

ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
(Unaudited)
 
                 
            Increase/    
Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
   

                 (Dollars In Millions)

 
Electric Operating Revenues:                
  Residential   $196    $184   $12   
  Commercial   159    142   17    12 
  Industrial   244    212   32    15 
  Governmental   10    9   1    11 
    Total retail   609    547   62    11 
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   26    13   13    100 
    Non-associated companies   32    45   (13)   (29)
Other   (15)   7   (22)   (314)
  Total   $652    $612   $40   
                 
Billed Electric Energy                
  Sales (GWh):                
  Residential   2,155    2,188   (33)   (2)
  Commercial   1,914    1,862   52   
  Industrial   3,981    3,923   58   
  Governmental   105    111   (6)   (5)
    Total retail   8,155    8,084   71   
  Sales for resale                
    Associated companies   565    311   254    82 
    Non-associated companies   539    1,022   (483)   (47)
  Total   9,259    9,417   (158)   (2)
                 
                 

 

ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Results of Operations

Net Income

Entergy Louisiana's net income for first quarter 2005 was $1.8 million, which is a decrease of $19.4 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to lower net revenue, higher other operation and maintenance expenses, higher depreciation and amortization expenses, and higher interest charges, partially offset by higher interest income.

Net Revenue

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

 

 

Amount

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

2004 net revenue

 

$197.2 

Volume/weather

 

(9.6)

Rate refund provisions

 

(5.1)

Other

 

2.2 

2005 net revenue

 

$184.7 

The volume/weather variance is due to a total decrease of 131 GWh in weather-adjusted usage, primarily in the residential sector, and decreased usage during the unbilled sales period, partially offset by the effect of milder weather in the first quarter of 2004.

The rate refund provisions variance is primarily due to provisions recorded in the first quarter of 2005 as a result of a settlement approved by the LPSC in March 2005. The settlement is discussed in Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements.

Fuel and purchased power expenses and other regulatory credits

Fuel and purchased power expenses increased primarily due to:

  • an increase in the market prices of natural gas and purchased power; and
  • an increase in the recovery from customers of deferred fuel costs.

The increase was partially offset by decreased demand.

Other regulatory credits increased primarily due to the deferral in the first quarter of 2005 of capacity charges related to generation resource planning as allowed by the LPSC.

Other Income Statement Variances

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $3.4 million in benefit costs;
  • an increase of $2.3 million in fossil plant planned off-peak maintenance outage costs; and
  • an increase of $1.5 million in casualty reserves.

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

Other income increased primarily due to:

  • an increase of $1.2 million in the allowance for equity funds used during construction due to an increase in construction expenditures related to transmission and nuclear projects; and
  • an increase of $1.3 million in interest and dividend income primarily due to interest earned on temporary cash investments.
  • Interest charges increased primarily due to:

    • interest accrued on past transmission construction collections from a cogenerator in accordance with a December 2004 FERC order; and
    • the net issuance of $98 million of First Mortgage Bonds in 2004.

    Income Taxes

    The effective income tax rates for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 32.1% and 37.2%, respectively. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to the amortization of investment tax credits and book and tax differences related to the allowance for funds used during construction, partially offset by state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items. The difference in the effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items and state income taxes, partially offset by the amortization of investment tax credits.

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

    Cash Flow

    Cash flows for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

     

     

    2005

     

    2004

     

     

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     

    $146,049 

     

    $8,787 

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash flow provided by (used in):

     

     

     

     

     

    Operating activities

     

    82,815 

     

    8,562 

     

    Investing activities

     

    (56,705)

     

    (44,571)

     

    Financing activities

     

    (3,478)

     

    82,763 

    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     

    22,632 

     

    46,754 

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

     

    $168,681 

     

    $55,541 

    Operating Activities

    Cash flow from operations increased $74.3 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to money pool activity which provided $11.2 million of Entergy Louisiana's operating cash flows in the first quarter of 2005 and used $66.9 million in the first quarter of 2004. Entergy Louisiana's receivables from or (payables to) the money pool were as follows:

    March 31,
    2005

     

    December 31,
    2004

     

    March 31,
    2004

     

    December 31,
    2003

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    $29,378

     

    $40,549

     

    $25,626

     

    ($41,317)

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

    Investing Activities

    The increase of $12.1 million in net cash used by investing activities for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 is primarily due to increased spending on transmission and nuclear projects.

    Financing Activities

    Entergy Louisiana used $3.5 million of cash for financing activities in the first quarter of 2005 compared to providing $82.8 million in the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to the issuance of $100 million of 5.5% Series First Mortgage Bonds in March 2004, partially offset by a principal payment of $14.8 million in 2004 for the Waterford Lease Obligation.

    Uses and Sources of Capital

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Louisiana's uses and sources of capital. Following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

    As discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana has a 364-day credit facility in the amount of $15 million. The credit facility's expiration has been extended to July 2005, and it is expected that this facility will be renewed prior to expiration.

    Regarding the planned Perryville plant acquisition by Entergy Louisiana, the FERC has denied rehearing of its October 2004 order disclaiming jurisdiction over the acquisition. Also, the LPSC hearing on the acquisition scheduled for March 2005 was held and in April 2005 the LPSC approved the acquisition and the long-term cost-of-service purchased power agreement under which Entergy Gulf States will purchase 75 percent of the plant's output. Entergy Louisiana expects the Perryville acquisition to close in mid-2005.

    Significant Factors and Known Trends

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of utility restructuring, state rate regulation, federal regulation and proceedings, industrial and commercial customers, market and credit risks, nuclear matters, environmental risks, and litigation risks. Following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

    State and Local Rate Regulation

    In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement will result in credits of $14 million to retail electricity customers of Entergy Louisiana. The settlement dismisses, among other dockets, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for Entergy Louisiana for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all pending and future nuclear uprate cases through May 2005, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the System Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agreement case pending at FERC. In addition, Entergy Louisiana agreed to forego recovery of $3.5 million of deferred 2003 capacity costs associated with certain power purchase agreements. The credits will be issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Louisiana has reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

    Refer to "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - State Rate Regulation" in the Form 10-K for discussion of Entergy Louisiana's rate filing with the LPSC requesting a base rate increase. In March 2005, the LPSC staff and Entergy Louisiana filed a proposed settlement that includes an annual base rate increase of approximately $18.3 million which was implemented, subject to refund, effective with May 2005 billings. The proposed settlement also includes the adoption of a three-year formula rate plan, the terms of which include a ROE mid-point of 10.25% and permit Entergy Louisiana to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an 80 basis point bandwidth will be allocated 60% to the customers and 40% to Entergy Louisiana. A decision from the LPSC is expected in May 2005.

    Federal Regulation

    System Agreement Litigation

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

    Transmission

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

    Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal. Entergy contemplates submitting the necessary filings by the end of May 2005. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy. The intervenors requested that the FERC act on their Request for Clarification by May 4, 2005. The intervenors filed a separate request f or rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

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

    In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is now scheduled for August 2005.

    Interconnection Orders

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

    Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

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

    Critical Accounting Estimates

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy Louisiana's accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs, unbilled revenue, and pension and other postretirement costs.

    Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

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

    ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
    INCOME STATEMENTS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
       
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
             
    OPERATING REVENUES        
    Domestic electric   $480,673    $488,046 
             
    OPERATING EXPENSES        
    Operation and Maintenance:        
      Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
       gas purchased for resale   137,777    137,779 
      Purchased power   171,306    157,730 
      Nuclear refueling outage expenses   3,424    3,177 
      Other operation and maintenance   88,638    77,698 
    Decommissioning   5,717    5,356 
    Taxes other than income taxes   18,357    16,074 
    Depreciation and amortization   51,808    46,586 
    Other regulatory credits - net   (13,084)   (4,672)
    TOTAL   463,943    439,728 
             
    OPERATING INCOME   16,730    48,318 
             
    OTHER INCOME        
    Allowance for equity funds used during construction   2,537    1,350 
    Interest and dividend income   3,066    1,727 
    Miscellaneous - net   (367)   (1,138)
    TOTAL   5,236    1,939 
             
    INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
    Interest on long-term debt   17,839    16,458 
    Other interest - net   3,019    985 
    Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (1,499)   (976)
    TOTAL   19,359    16,467 
             
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   2,607    33,790 
             
    Income taxes   836    12,579 
             
    NET INCOME   1,771    21,211 
             
    Preferred dividend requirements and other   1,678    1,678 
             
    EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO        
    COMMON STOCK   $93    $19,533 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

     

     

     

     

    (Page left blank intentionally)

     

     

    ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
    STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
         
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
             
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
    Net income   $1,771    $21,211 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
      Reserve for regulatory adjustments   5,287    - - 
      Other regulatory credits - net   (13,084)   (4,672)
      Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   57,525    51,942 
      Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   (8,913)   19,728 
      Changes in working capital:        
        Receivables   10,893    (4,509)
        Accounts payable   (24,415)   (94,210)
        Taxes accrued   21,343    6,646 
        Interest accrued   1,783    (5,205)
        Deferred fuel costs   27,559    13,773 
        Other working capital accounts   (18,853)   21,040 
      Provision for estimated losses and reserves   1,926    1,778 
      Changes in other regulatory assets   (8,651)   519 
      Other   28,644    (19,479)
    Net cash flow provided by operating activities   82,815    8,562 
             
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
    Construction expenditures   (55,368)   (44,758)
    Allowance for equity funds used during construction   2,537    1,350 
    Nuclear fuel purchases   (40,291)   - - 
    Proceeds from the sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   40,291    - - 
    Decommissioning trust contributions and realized        
      change in trust assets   (3,874)   (1,163)
    Net cash flow used in investing activities   (56,705)   (44,571)
             
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
    Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   - -    99,250 
    Retirement of long-term debt   - -    (14,809)
    Dividends paid:        
      Common stock   (1,800)   - - 
      Preferred stock   (1,678)   (1,678)
    Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities   (3,478)   82,763 
             
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   22,632    46,754 
             
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   146,049    8,787 
             
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $168,681    $55,541 
             
    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
    Cash paid during the period for:        
      Interest - net of amount capitalized   $18,285    $20,345 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

     

    ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
    BALANCE SHEETS
    ASSETS
    March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
    (Unaudited)
       
      2005   2004
      (In Thousands)
             
    CURRENT ASSETS        
    Cash and cash equivalents:        
      Cash   $3,531    $3,875 
      Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
       which approximates market   165,150    142,174 
            Total cash and cash equivalents   168,681    146,049 
    Accounts receivable:        
      Customer   79,304    88,154 
      Allowance for doubtful accounts   (2,467)   (3,135)
      Associated companies   50,856    43,121 
      Other   24,776    13,070 
      Accrued unbilled revenues   121,301    143,453 
        Total accounts receivable   273,770    284,663 
    Deferred fuel costs   - -    8,654 
    Accumulated deferred income taxes   16,043    12,712 
    Materials and supplies - at average cost   77,827    77,665 
    Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   3,988    5,605 
    Prepayments and other   22,293    6,861 
    TOTAL   562,602    542,209 
             
    OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
    Investment in affiliates - at equity   14,230    14,230 
    Decommissioning trust funds   175,771    172,083 
    Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   21,143    21,176 
    Other    
    TOTAL   211,148    207,493 
              
    UTILITY PLANT        
    Electric   6,010,315    5,985,889 
    Property under capital lease   250,964    250,964 
    Construction work in progress   210,363    188,848 
    Nuclear fuel under capital lease   74,681    31,655 
    TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   6,546,323    6,457,356 
    Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   2,839,284    2,799,936 
    UTILITY PLANT - NET   3,707,039    3,657,420 
              
    DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
    Regulatory assets:        
      SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   134,880    132,686 
      Other regulatory assets   310,717    302,456 
    Long-term receivables   10,736    10,736 
    Other   27,486    25,994 
    TOTAL   483,819    471,872 
              
    TOTAL ASSETS   $4,964,608     $4,878,994  
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
     
     
     
    ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
    BALANCE SHEETS
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
    (Unaudited)
       
      2005   2004
      (In Thousands)
     
    CURRENT LIABILITIES        
    Currently maturing long-term debt   $55,000    $55,000 
    Accounts payable:         
      Associated companies   59,000    57,681 
      Other   102,789    128,523 
    Customer deposits   66,652    66,963 
    Taxes accrued   37,431    7,268 
    Interest accrued   20,221    18,438 
    Deferred fuel cost   18,905    - - 
    Obligations under capital leases   22,753    22,753 
    Other   19,863    10,428 
    TOTAL   402,614    367,054 
             
    NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
    Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   1,795,274    1,805,410  
    Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   94,902    96,130  
    Obligations under capital leases   51,929    8,903  
    Other regulatory liabilities   67,318    51,260  
    Decommissioning   352,972    347,255  
    Accumulated provisions   94,579    92,653  
    Long-term debt   930,711    930,695  
    Other   103,197    106,815  
    TOTAL   3,490,882    3,439,121  
             
    Commitments and Contingencies        
             
    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
    Preferred stock without sinking fund   100,500     100,500  
    Common stock, no par value, authorized 250,000,000        
      shares; issued 165,173,180 shares in 2005        
      and 2004   1,088,900     1,088,900  
    Capital stock expense and other   (1,718)   (1,718)
    Retained earnings   3,430     5,137  
    Less - treasury stock, at cost (18,202,573 shares in 2005 and 2004)   120,000     120,000  
    TOTAL   1,071,112     1,072,819  
             
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $4,964,608     $4,878,994  
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

     

      ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC.
    SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)

     
     
            Increase/    
    Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
        (Dollars In Millions)    
    Electric Operating Revenues:                
      Residential   $165    $170    ($5)   (3)
      Commercial   115    114     
      Industrial   189    186      2  
      Governmental   10        11 
         Total retail   479    479      - - 
      Sales for resale                
         Associated companies   16    10      60 
         Non-associated companies       (2)   (50)
      Other   (16)   (5)   (11)   (220)
        Total   $481    $488   ($7)   (1)
                     
    Billed Electric Energy                
      Sales (GWh):                
      Residential   1,929    2,007    (78)   (4)
      Commercial   1,287    1,283      - - 
      Industrial   3,115    3,132    (17)   (1)
      Governmental   118    109     
         Total retail   6,449    6,531    (82)   (1)
      Sales for resale                
        Associated companies   145    106    39    37 
        Non-associated companies   15    48    (33)   (69)
       Total   6,609    6,685    (76)   (1)

    ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.

    MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

    Results of Operations

    Net Income

    Net income decreased $1.4 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to higher other operation and maintenance expenses and higher depreciation and amortization expense, substantially offset by higher net revenue.

    Net Revenue

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

       

    Amount

       

    (In Millions)

         

    2004 net revenue

     

    $87.5 

    Net wholesale revenue

     

    4.0 

    2005 net revenue

     

    $91.5 

    The net wholesale revenue variance resulted from the receipt from a third party of prior period transmission revenue that was not previously billed.

    Other Income Statement Variances

    Other operation and maintenance expenses increased primarily due to:

    • an increase of $3.0 million in fossil plant planned off-peak maintenance outage costs; and
    • an increase of $1.2 million in benefit costs.

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

    Income Taxes

    The effective income tax rates for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 29.6% and 32.8%, respectively. The difference in the effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2005 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to the amortization of investment tax credits and book and tax differences related to the allowance of equity funds used during construction, partially offset by state income taxes. The difference in the effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2004 versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to book and tax differences related to utility plant items and the amortization of investment tax credits, partially offset by state income taxes.

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

    Cash Flow

    Cash flows for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

     

     

    2005

     

    2004

     

     

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     

    $80,396 

     

    $63,838 

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash flow provided by (used in):

     

     

     

     

     

    Operating activities

     

    32,573 

     

    15,182 

     

    Investing activities

     

    (30,545)

     

    (30,119)

     

    Financing activities

     

    (6,342)

     

    (3,742)

    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     

    (4,314)

     

    (18,679)

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

     

    $76,082 

     

    $45,159 

    Operating Activities

    Cash flow from operations increased $17.4 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to increased recovery of deferred fuel and purchased power costs and money pool activity.

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

    March 31,
    2005

     

    December 31,
    2004

     

    March 31,
    2004

     

    December 31,
    2003

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    $13,111

     

    $21,584

     

    $17,289

     

    $22,076

    Money pool activity provided $8.5 million of Entergy Mississippi's operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2005 and provided $4.8 million of Entergy Mississippi's operating cash flow for the first quarter of 2004. See Note 4 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for a description of the money pool.

    Investing Activities

    Net cash used in investing activities was relatively unchanged for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004. Decreased capital expenditures as a result of decreased spending on transmission projects was offset by the maturity in 2004 of $7.5 million of other temporary investments that had been made in 2003, which provided cash in 2004.

    Uses and Sources of Capital

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Mississippi's uses and sources of capital. Following are updates to the information presented in the Form 10-K.

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

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

    Significant Factors and Known Trends

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of utility restructuring, state and local rate regulation, federal regulation and proceedings, market and credit risks, state and local regulatory risks, and litigation risks. The following are updates to the information provided in the Form 10-K.

    State and Local Rate Regulation

    In April 2005, Entergy Mississippi and the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation regarding Entergy Mississippi's annual formula rate plan filing that provides for no change in rates based on an adjusted return on common equity midpoint of 10.5%, establishing an allowed regulatory earnings range of 9.1% to 11.9%.

    Federal Regulation

    Transmission

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

    Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal. Entergy contemplates submitting the necessary filings by the end of May 2005. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy. The intervenors requested that the FERC act on their Request for Clarification by May 4, 2005. The intervenors filed a separate request f or rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

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

    In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is now scheduled for August 2005.

    Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

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

    Critical Accounting Estimates

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy Mississippi's accounting for pension and other retirement costs.

    Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

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

    ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
    INCOME STATEMENTS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
         
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
             
    OPERATING REVENUES        
    Domestic electric   $251,246    $236,829 
             
    OPERATING EXPENSES        
    Operation and Maintenance:        
      Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
       gas purchased for resale   43,367    59,175 
      Purchased power   116,058    92,702 
      Other operation and maintenance   40,981    37,048 
    Taxes other than income taxes   13,766    12,798 
    Depreciation and amortization   17,937    14,909 
    Other regulatory charges (credits) - net   365    (2,527)
    TOTAL   232,474    214,105 
             
    OPERATING INCOME   18,772    22,724 
             
    OTHER INCOME        
    Allowance for equity funds used during construction   1,001    767 
    Interest and dividend income   638    716 
    Miscellaneous - net   (369)   (640)
    TOTAL   1,270    843 
             
    INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES  
    Interest on long-term debt   9,834    10,929 
    Other interest - net   617    400 
    Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (663)   (607)
    TOTAL   9,788    10,722 
             
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   10,254    12,845 
             
    Income taxes   3,032    4,208 
             
    NET INCOME   7,222    8,637 
             
    Preferred dividend requirements and other   842    842 
             
    EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO        
    COMMON STOCK   $6,380    $7,795 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

     

     

     

     

    (Page left blank intentionally)

    ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
    STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
         
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
             
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
    Net income   $7,222    $8,637 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
    Other regulatory charges (credits) - net   365    (2,527)
    Depreciation and amortization   17,937    14,909 
    Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   (695)   56,647 
    Changes in working capital:        
      Receivables   20,843    12,328 
      Fuel inventory   1,696    726 
      Accounts payable   (15,008)   (10,296)
      Taxes accrued   (22,845)   (74,888)
      Interest accrued   3,940    2,837 
      Deferred fuel costs   17,714    8,244 
      Other working capital accounts   (13,617)   (4,103)
    Provision for estimated losses and reserves   19    20 
    Changes in other regulatory assets   2,181    1,200 
    Other   12,821    1,448 
    Net cash flow provided by operating activities   32,573    15,182 
             
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
    Construction expenditures   (31,546)   (38,392)
    Allowance for equity funds used during construction   1,001    767 
    Changes in other temporary investments - net     7,506 
    Net cash flow used in investing activities   (30,545)   (30,119)
             
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
    Dividends paid:        
      Common stock   (5,500)   (2,900)
      Preferred stock   (842)   (842)
    Net cash flow used in financing activities   (6,342)   (3,742)
             
    Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (4,314)   (18,679)
             
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   80,396    63,838 
             
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $76,082    $45,159 
             
    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
    Cash paid during the period for:        
      Interest - net of amount capitalized   $5,990    $7,996 
             

     

    ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
    BALANCE SHEETS
    ASSETS
    March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
    (Unaudited)
         
      2005   2004
      (In Thousands)
             
    CURRENT ASSETS        
    Cash and cash equivalents:        
      Cash   $2,377    $4,716 
      Temporary cash investment - at cost,        
       which approximates market   73,705    75,680 
            Total cash and cash equivalents   76,082    80,396 
    Accounts receivable:        
      Customer   55,863    68,821 
      Allowance for doubtful accounts   (797)   (1,126)
      Associated companies   19,389    22,616 
      Other   13,184    12,133 
      Accrued unbilled revenues   28,310    34,348 
        Total accounts receivable   115,949    136,792 
    Accumulated deferred income taxes   27,853    27,924 
    Fuel inventory - at average cost   2,441    4,137 
    Materials and supplies - at average cost   19,004    18,414 
    Prepayments and other   25,357    15,413 
    TOTAL   266,686    283,076 
             
    OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
    Investment in affiliates - at equity   5,531    5,531 
    Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)   6,294    6,465 
    TOTAL   11,825    11,996 
             
    UTILITY PLANT        
    Electric   2,408,731    2,385,465 
    Property under capital lease   84    95 
    Construction work in progress   93,546    89,921 
    TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   2,502,361    2,475,481 
    Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   885,866    870,188 
    UTILITY PLANT - NET   1,616,495    1,605,293 
             
    DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
    Regulatory assets:        
      SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   17,641    17,628 
      Other regulatory assets   82,925    82,674 
    Long-term receivable   4,510    4,510 
    Other   30,798    31,009 
    TOTAL   135,874    135,821 
             
    TOTAL ASSETS   $2,030,880    $2,036,186 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
     
     
    ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
    BALANCE SHEETS
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
    (Unaudited)
         
      2005   2004
      (In Thousands)
     
    CURRENT LIABILITIES        
    Accounts payable:        
      Associated companies   $ 59,333    $ 65,806 
      Other   17,008    25,543 
    Customer deposits   38,840    37,333 
    Taxes accrued   21,556    40,106 
    Interest accrued   16,427    12,487 
    Deferred fuel costs   40,507    22,793 
    Obligations under capital leases   43     43 
    Other   3,751    8,341 
    TOTAL   197,465    212,452 
             
    NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
    Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   433,881    438,321 
    Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   13,355    13,687 
    Obligations under capital leases   41    52 
    Accumulated provisions   12,737    12,718 
    Long-term debt   695,091    695,073 
    Other   89,618    76,071 
    TOTAL   1,244,723    1,235,922 
             
    Commitments and Contingencies        
             
    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
    Preferred stock without sinking fund   50,381    50,381 
    Common stock, no par value, authorized 15,000,000 shares;        
     issued and outstanding 8,666,357 shares in 2005 and 2004   199,326    199,326 
    Capital stock expense and other   (59)   (59)
    Retained earnings   339,044    338,164 
    TOTAL   588,692    587,812 
             
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $2,030,880    $2,036,186 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
             

     

     ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
    SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)

                 
                 
            Increase/    
    Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
        (Dollars In Millions)    
    Electric Operating Revenues:                
      Residential   $ 96   $ 95   $ 1   1 
      Commercial   85   80   5   6 
      Industrial   44   42   2   5 
      Governmental   8   8   - -    - - 
         Total retail   233   225   8    4 
      Sales for resale                
        Associated companies   6   4   2    50 
      Non-associated companies   10   5   5    100 
    Other   2   3   (1)   (33)
      Total   $ 251   $ 237   $14    6 
                     
    Billed Electric Energy                
      Sales (GWh):                
      Residential   1,196   1,225   (29)   (2)
      Commercial   1,021   1,004   17    2 
      Industrial   692   676   16    2 
      Governmental   92   91   1    1 
        Total retail   3,001   2,996   5    - - 
      Sales for resale                
        Associated companies   17   13   4    31 
        Non-associated companies   68   66   2    3 
        Total   3,086   3,075   11    - - 
                     

    ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.

    MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

    Results of Operations

    Net Income

    Net income decreased $1.4 million for the first quarter 2005 compared to the first quarter 2004 primarily due to lower net revenue and higher depreciation expense.

    Net Revenue

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

       

    Amount

       

    (In Millions)

         

    2004 net revenue

     

    $53.6 

    Price applied to unbilled electric sales

     

    (2.2)

    Weather/volume

     

    (2.2)

    Rate refund provisions

     

    4.1 

    Other

     

    (1.2)

    2005 net revenue

     

    $52.1 

    The price applied to unbilled electric sales variance is due to a decrease in fuel price applied to unbilled sales.

    The weather/volume variance is due to a decrease in electricity usage in the service territory primarily during the unbilled sales period.

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

    Gross operating revenues and fuel expenses

    Gross operating revenues increased primarily due to an increase of $19.2 million in gross wholesale revenue as a result of increased sales to affiliates.

    Fuel expenses increased primarily due to increased generation to meet system requirements.

    Other Income Statement Variances

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

    Income Taxes

    The effective income tax rates for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were 38.1% and 38.25%, respectively. The difference for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 in the effective income tax rate versus the federal statutory rate of 35.0% is primarily due to state income taxes and book and tax differences related to utility plant items.

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

    Cash Flow

    Cash flows for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

     

     

    2005

     

    2004

     

     

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     

    $7,954 

     

    $4,669 

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash flow provided by (used in):

     

     

     

     

     

    Operating activities

     

    5,373 

     

    12,973 

     

    Investing activities

     

    (9,959)

     

    (9,191)

     

    Financing activities

     

    (841)

     

    (841)

    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     

    (5,427)

     

    2,941 

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

     

    $2,527 

     

    $7,610 

    Operating Activities

    Cash flow from operations decreased $7.6 million primarily due to an income tax refund of $5.0 million in the first quarter of 2004. Cash flow from operations also decreased due to money pool activity, which provided $5.3 million of Entergy New Orleans operating cash flow of the first quarter of 2005 compared to providing $9.8 million in the first quarter of 2004.

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

    March 31,
    2005

     

    December 31,
    2004

     

    March 31,
    2004

     

    December 31,
    2003

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    ($3,897)

     

    $1,413

     

    ($8,023)

     

    $1,783

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

    Uses and Sources of Capital

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy New Orleans' uses and sources of capital.

    As discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy New Orleans has a 364-day credit facility in the amount of $14 million. The credit facility's expiration has been extended to July 2005, and it is expected that this facility will be renewed prior to expiration.

    Significant Factors and Known Trends

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of state and local rate regulation, federal regulation and proceedings, market and credit risks, environmental risks, and litigation risks. Following are updates to the information presented in the Form 10-K.

    State and Local Rate Regulation

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

    Federal Regulation

    System Agreement Litigation

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

    Transmission

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

    Before Entergy's ICT proposal can be implemented, however, Entergy is required to submit further filings with the FERC regarding the modifications and clarifications to the ICT proposal. Entergy contemplates submitting the necessary filings by the end of May 2005. On April 8, 2005 several intervenors filed an Emergency Request for Clarification and Request for Expedited Commission Action seeking to have the FERC: (1) clarify the ICT's role in administering the Available Flowgate Capacity (AFC) methodology; (2) clarify the ICT's role in developing the transmission base plan; (3) clarify what the FERC meant when it required Entergy to provide firm transmission rights to customers that pay for supplemental transmission upgrades; and (4) clarify and confirm following Entergy's filing that the FERC will assess SPP's status as being independent of Entergy. The intervenors requested that the FERC act on their Request for Clarification by May 4, 2005. The intervenors filed a separate request f or rehearing on April 21, 2005 urging the FERC to impose additional conditions on the approval of the ICT and also re-urging the FERC to reject the pricing proposal contained in the ICT proposal.

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

    In addition, as discussed in the Form 10-K, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States have filed an application with the LPSC requesting that the LPSC find that the ICT proposal is a prudent and appropriate course of action. An LPSC hearing on the ICT proposal is now scheduled for August 2005.

    Available Flowgate Capacity Proceedings

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

    Critical Accounting Estimates

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in Entergy New Orleans' accounting for unbilled revenue and pension and other retirement costs.

    Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

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

    ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
    INCOME STATEMENTS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
       
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
             
    OPERATING REVENUES        
    Domestic electric   $131,172    $112,576 
    Natural gas   60,095    57,191 
    TOTAL   191,267    169,767 
             
    OPERATING EXPENSES        
    Operation and Maintenance:        
      Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
       gas purchased for resale   81,096    56,511 
      Purchased power   56,782    58,919 
      Other operation and maintenance   20,847    21,316 
    Taxes other than income taxes   10,680    9,995 
    Depreciation and amortization   8,086    6,831 
    Other regulatory charges - net   1,255    708 
    TOTAL   178,746    154,280 
             
    OPERATING INCOME   12,521    15,487 
             
    OTHER INCOME        
    Allowance for equity funds used during construction   282    218 
    Interest and dividend income   218    170 
    Miscellaneous - net   (123)   (294)
    TOTAL   377    94 
             
    INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES      
    Interest on long-term debt   3,486    3,866 
    Other interest - net   384    416 
    Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (232)   (222)
    TOTAL   3,638    4,060 
             
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   9,260    11,521 
             
    Income taxes   3,524    4,407 
             
    NET INCOME   5,736    7,114 
             
    Preferred dividend requirements and other   241    241 
             
    EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO        
    COMMON STOCK   $5,495    $6,873 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

     

     

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    ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
    STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
         
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
    Net income   $5,736     $7,114  
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
      Other regulatory charges - net   1,255     708  
      Depreciation and amortization   8,086     6,831  
      Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   (1,695)   17,125  
      Changes in working capital:        
        Receivables   3,410     14,858  
        Fuel inventory   4,181     4,561  
        Accounts payable   (5,909)   (19,295)
        Taxes accrued   4,779     (4,744)
        Interest accrued   (2,499)   (3,929)
        Deferred fuel costs   (5,244)   (7,646)
        Other working capital accounts   (8,539)   14,571 
      Provision for estimated losses and reserves   (556)   (33)
      Changes in other regulatory assets   2,492     708 
      Other   (124)   (17,856)
    Net cash flow provided by operating activities   5,373     12,973  
             
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
    Construction expenditures   (10,241)   (10,015)
    Allowance for equity funds used during construction   282     218  
    Changes in other temporary investments - net   - -     606  
    Net cash flow used in investing activities   (9,959)   (9,191)
             
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
    Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt   - -     - - 
    Retirement of long-term debt   - -     - - 
    Dividends paid:        
      Common stock   (600)   (600)
      Preferred stock   (241)   (241)
    Net cash flow used in financing activities   (841)   (841)
             
    Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents   (5,427)   2,941  
             
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   7,954    4,669  
             
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $2,527    $7,610  
             
    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
    Cash paid/(received) during the period for:        
      Interest - net of amount capitalized   $6,171    $8,052 
      Income taxes   - -    ($5,010)
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
             

     

    ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
    BALANCE SHEETS
    ASSETS
    March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
    (Unaudited)
       
      2005   2004
      (In Thousands)
             
    CURRENT ASSETS        
    Cash and cash equivalents:        
      Cash   $2,527     $2,998  
      Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
       which approximates market   - -     4,956  
            Total cash and cash equivalents   2,527     7,954  
    Accounts receivable:        
      Customer   43,814     47,356  
      Allowance for doubtful accounts   (3,436)   (3,492)
      Associated companies   14,874     12,223  
      Other   7,577     7,329  
      Accrued unbilled revenues   22,025     24,848  
        Total accounts receivable   84,854     88,264  
    Deferred fuel   7,803     2,559  
    Fuel inventory - at average cost   - -     4,181  
    Materials and supplies - at average cost   9,207     9,150  
    Prepayments and other   11,296     3,467  
    TOTAL   115,687     115,575  
             
    OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS        
    Investment in affiliates - at equity   3,259     3,259  
             
    UTILITY PLANT        
    Electric   705,519     699,072  
    Natural gas   186,244     183,728  
    Construction work in progress   34,087     33,273  
    TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   925,850     916,073  
    Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   443,140     435,519  
    UTILITY PLANT - NET   482,710     480,554  
             
    DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS        
    Regulatory assets:        
      Other regulatory assets   37,769     40,354  
    Long term receivables   2,492     2,492  
    Other   20,580     20,540  
    TOTAL   60,841     63,386  
             
    TOTAL ASSETS   $662,497     $662,774 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
     
     
    ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
    BALANCE SHEETS
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
    (Unaudited)
       
      2005   2004
      (In Thousands)
     
    CURRENT LIABILITIES        
    Currently maturing long-term debt   $30,000   $30,000
    Accounts payable:        
    Associated companies   35,144   30,563
      Other   33,659   44,149
    Customer deposits   17,651   17,187
    Taxes accrued   2,103   2,592
    Accumulated deferred income taxes   1,761   1,906
    Interest accrued   2,258   4,757
    Energy Efficiency Program provision   6,690   6,611
    Other   2,281   3,477
    TOTAL   131,547   141,242
             
    NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES        
    Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   52,434   47,062
    Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   3,888   3,997
    SFAS 109 regulatory liability - net   45,038   46,406
    Accumulated provisions   8,767   9,323
    Pension liability   38,653   36,845
    Long-term debt   199,912   199,902
    Other   3,121   3,755
    TOTAL   351,813   347,290
             
    Commitments and Contingencies        
             
    SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY        
    Preferred stock without sinking fund   19,780   19,780
    Common stock, $4 par value, authorized 10,000,000        
      shares; issued and outstanding 8,435,900 shares in 2005        
      and 2004   33,744   33,744
    Paid-in capital   36,294   36,294
    Retained earnings   89,319   84,424
    TOTAL   179,137   174,242
             
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY   $662,497   $662,774
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
             

     

    ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC.
    SELECTED OPERATING RESULTS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
                     
                     
                Increase/    
    Description   2005   2004   (Decrease)   %
        (Dollars In Millions)    
    Electric Operating Revenues:                
      Residential   $29   $30   ($1)   (3)
      Commercial   34   34   -    - - 
      Industrial   7   6   1    17 
      Governmental   13   13   -    - - 
         Total retail   83   83   -    - - 
      Sales for resale                
        Associated companies   46   27   19    70 
        Non-associated companies   -   1   (1)   (100)
      Other   2   2   -    - - 
        Total   $131   $113   $18    16 
                     
    Billed Electric Energy                
      Sales (GWh):                
      Residential   400   417   (17)   (4)
      Commercial   519   525   (6)   (1)
      Industrial   144   112   32    29 
      Governmental   226   225   1    -  
         Total retail   1,289   1,279   10    1 
      Sales for resale                
        Associated companies   606   360   246    68 
        Non-associated companies   4   9   (5)   (56)
       Total   1,899   1,648   251    15  
                     

    SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.

    MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

     

    Results of Operations

    System Energy's principal asset consists of a 90% ownership and leasehold interest in Grand Gulf. The capacity and energy from its 90% interest is sold under the Unit Power Sales Agreement to its only four customers, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans. System Energy's operating revenues are derived from the allocation of the capacity, energy, and related costs associated with its 90% interest in Grand Gulf pursuant to the Unit Power Sales Agreement. Payments under the Unit Power Sales Agreement are System Energy's only source of operating revenues. Net income increased $1.6 million for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 primarily due to higher interest income earned on temporary cash investments.

    Liquidity and Capital Resources

    Cash Flow

    Cash flows for the first quarters of 2005 and 2004 were as follows:

     

     

    2005

     

    2004

     

     

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     

    $216,355 

     

    $52,536 

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash flow provided by (used in):

     

     

     

     

     

    Operating activities

     

    77,763 

     

    37,268 

     

    Investing activities

     

    (8,156)

     

    (2,648)

     

    Financing activities

     

    (55,613)

     

    (30,348)

    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     

    13,994 

     

    4,272 

     

     

     

     

     

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

     

    $230,349 

     

    $56,808 

    Operating Activities

    Cash flow from operations increased $40.5 million for the first quarter 2005 compared to the first quarter 2004 primarily due to money pool activity. Money pool activity provided $20.6 million of System Energy's operating cash flows for the first quarter of 2005 and used $10.7 million for the first quarter of 2004. System Energy's receivables from the money pool were as follows:

    March 31,
    2005

     

    December 31,
    2004

     

    March 31,
    2004

     

    December 31,
    2003

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    $40,965

     

    $61,592

     

    $29,728

     

    $19,064

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

    Investing Activities

    The increase of $5.5 million in net cash used in investing activities for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 was primarily due to the maturity of $6.5 million of other temporary investments, which provided cash in 2004.

    Financing Activities

    The increase of $25.3 million in net cash used in financing activities for the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004 was primarily due to an increase of $22.4 million in the January 2005 principal payment made on the Grand Gulf sale-leaseback compared to the January 2004 principal payment.

    Uses and Sources of Capital

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Liquidity and Capital Resources" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of System Energy's uses and sources of capital.

    Significant Factors and Known Trends

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Significant Factors and Known Trends" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of market risks, nuclear matters, litigation risks, and environmental risks.

    Critical Accounting Estimates

    See "Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis - Critical Accounting Estimates" in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the estimates and judgments necessary in System Energy's accounting for nuclear decommissioning costs and pension and other retirement benefits.

    SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
    INCOME STATEMENTS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
           
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
             
    OPERATING REVENUES        
    Domestic electric   $124,790    $127,168 
             
    OPERATING EXPENSES        
    Operation and Maintenance:        
      Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and        
       gas purchased for resale   9,719    7,246 
      Nuclear refueling outage expenses   2,993    3,627 
      Other operation and maintenance   23,136    21,509 
    Decommissioning   6,128    5,701 
    Taxes other than income taxes   6,049    5,945 
    Depreciation and amortization   26,544    26,541 
    Other regulatory credits - net   (4,385)   (1,168)
    TOTAL   70,184    69,401 
             
    OPERATING INCOME   54,606    57,767 
             
    OTHER INCOME        
    Allowance for equity funds used during construction   306    414 
    Interest and dividend income   2,845    1,355 
    Miscellaneous - net   (113)   (221)
    TOTAL   3,038    1,548 
             
    INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES      
    Interest on long-term debt   12,856    15,240 
    Other interest - net   2    211 
    Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction   (97)   (134)
    TOTAL   12,761    15,317 
             
    INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES   44,883    43,998 
             
    Income taxes   18,651    19,334 
             
    NET INCOME   $26,232    $24,664 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
             

     

     

     

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    SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
    STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
    For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2005 and 2004
    (Unaudited)
         
        2005   2004
        (In Thousands)
             
    OPERATING ACTIVITIES        
    Net income   $26,232    $24,664 
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flow provided by operating activities:        
      Other regulatory credits - net   (4,385)   (1,168)
      Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning   32,672    32,242 
      Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits   (6,619)   (163,415)
      Changes in working capital:        
        Receivables   30,664    5,006 
        Accounts payable   (7,782)   (725)
        Taxes accrued   10,213    166,874 
        Interest accrued   (27,541)   (11,947)
        Other working capital accounts   (4,514)   (94,842)
    Provision for estimated losses and reserves   51    (1,096)
    Changes in other regulatory assets   (3,330)   8,782 
    Other   32,102    72,893 
    Net cash flow provided by operating activities   77,763    37,268 
             
    INVESTING ACTIVITIES        
    Construction expenditures   (3,307)   (5,737)
    Allowance for equity funds used during construction   306    414 
    Nuclear fuel purchases   - -    (45,460)
    Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel   - -    45,460 
    Decommissioning trust contributions and realized        
      change in trust assets   (5,155)   (3,807)
    Changes in other temporary investments - net   - -    6,482 
    Net cash flow used in investing activities   (8,156)   (2,648)
             
    FINANCING ACTIVITIES        
    Retirement of long-term debt   (28,813)   (6,348)
    Dividends paid:        
      Common stock   (26,800)   (24,000)
    Net cash flow used in financing activities   (55,613)   (30,348)
             
    Net increase in cash and cash equivalents   13,994    4,272 
             
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   216,355    52,536 
             
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period   $230,349    $56,808 
             
    SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:        
    Cash paid during the period for:        
      Interest - net of amount capitalized   $38,948    $26,322 
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

     

    SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
    BALANCE SHEETS
    ASSETS
    March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
    (Unaudited)
             
        2005   2004
      (In Thousands)
             
    CURRENT ASSETS        
    Cash and cash equivalents:        
      Cash   $59   $399
      Temporary cash investments - at cost,        
        which approximates market   230,290   215,956
            Total cash and cash equivalents   230,349   216,355
    Accounts receivable:        
      Associated companies   82,670   111,588
      Other   1,987   3,733
        Total accounts receivable   84,657   115,321
    Materials and supplies - at average cost   54,323   53,427
    Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs   6,620   9,510
    Prepayments and other   7,549   1,007
    TOTAL   383,498   395,620
             
    OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS      
    Decommissioning trust funds   211,474   205,083
             
    UTILITY PLANT      
    Electric   3,236,616   3,232,314
    Property under capital lease   469,993   469,993
    Construction work in progress   26,637   28,743
    Nuclear fuel under capital lease   58,602   65,572
    TOTAL UTILITY PLANT   3,791,848   3,796,622
    Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization   1,807,117   1,780,450
    UTILITY PLANT - NET   1,984,731   2,016,172
             
    DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS      
    Regulatory assets:        
      SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net   95,471   96,047
      Other regulatory assets   300,850   296,305
    Other   19,658   19,578
    TOTAL   415,979   411,930
             
    TOTAL ASSETS   $2,995,682   $3,028,805
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        
     
     
    SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
    BALANCE SHEETS
    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
    March 31, 2005 and December 31, 2004
    (Unaudited)
             
        2005   2004
      (In Thousands)
     
    CURRENT LIABILITIES      
    Currently maturing long-term debt   $22,989   $25,266
      Accounts payable:        
      Associated companies   -   3,880
      Other   17,149   21,051
    Taxes accrued   73,034   46,468
    Accumulated deferred income taxes   2,360   3,477
    Interest accrued   15,457   42,998
    Obligations under capital leases   27,716   27,716
    Other   1,655   1,621
    TOTAL   160,360   172,477
             
    NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES      
    Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued   397,941   421,466
    Accumulated deferred investment tax credits   74,743   75,612
    Obligations under capital leases   30,886   37,855
    Other regulatory liabilities   240,879   210,863
    Decommissioning   342,021   335,893
    Accumulated provisions   2,429   2,378
    Long-term debt   823,102   849,593
    Other   29,305   28,084
    TOTAL   1,941,306   1,961,744
             
    Commitments and Contingencies        
             
    SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY      
    Common stock, no par value, authorized 1,000,000 shares;        
      issued and outstanding 789,350 shares in 2005 and 2004   789,350   789,350
    Retained earnings   104,666   105,234
    TOTAL   894,016   894,584
             
    TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY   $2,995,682   $3,028,805
             
    See Notes to Respective Financial Statements.        

     

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

    NOTES TO RESPECTIVE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    (Unaudited)

    NOTE 1. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

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

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

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

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

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

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

    City Franchise Ordinances (Entergy New Orleans)

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

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

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

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

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

     

    NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS

    Retail Rate Proceedings

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

    Filings with the LPSC

    Global Settlement (Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana)

    In March 2005, the LPSC approved a settlement proposal to resolve various dockets covering a range of issues for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana. The settlement will result in credits totaling $76 million for retail electricity customers in Entergy Gulf States' Louisiana service territory and credits totaling $14 million for retail electricity customers of Entergy Louisiana. The settlement dismisses Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth annual earnings reviews, Entergy Gulf States' ninth post-merger earnings review and revenue requirement analysis, the continuation of a fuel review for Entergy Gulf States, dockets established to consider issues concerning power purchases for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana for the summers of 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, all pending and future nuclear uprate cases through May 2005, and an LPSC docket concerning retail issues arising under the System Agreement. The settlement does not include the System Agre ement case pending at FERC. In addition, Entergy Gulf States agreed not to seek recovery from customers of $2.0 million of excess refund amounts associated with the fourth through the eighth annual earnings reviews and Entergy Louisiana agreed to forego recovery of $3.5 million of deferred 2003 capacity costs associated with certain power purchase agreements. The credits have been issued in connection with April 2005 billings. Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana have reserved for the approximate refund amounts.

    The settlement includes the establishment of a three-year formula rate plan for Entergy Gulf States that, among other provisions, establishes a ROE mid-point of 10.65% and permits Entergy Gulf States to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside a 75 basis point bandwidth will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Gulf States. Under the settlement, there is no change to Entergy Gulf States' retail rates at this time. Current rates will remain in place until the first formula rate plan filing in May 2005 and will be reset, if necessary, effective September 1, 2005. If, as a result of the formula rate plan filing in May 2005, Entergy Gulf States is found to have earned an ROE in excess of 10.65% for the 2004 test year, rates will be reset and a refund will be given in an amount sufficient to reduce its ROE to 10.65% effective January 2004.

    Retail Rates (Entergy Louisiana)

    See Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of Entergy Louisiana's rate filing with the LPSC requesting a base rate increase. In March 2005, the LPSC staff and Entergy Louisiana filed a proposed settlement that includes an annual base rate increase of approximately $18.3 million which was implemented, subject to refund, effective with May 2005 billings. The proposed settlement also includes the adoption of a three-year formula rate plan, the terms of which include a ROE mid-point of 10.25% and permit Entergy Louisiana to recover incremental capacity costs outside of a traditional base rate proceeding. Under the formula rate plan, over- and under-earnings outside an 80 basis point bandwidth will be allocated 60% to customers and 40% to Entergy Louisiana. A decision from the LPSC on the proposed settlement is expected in May 2005.

    Filings with the City Council (Entergy New Orleans)

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

    Deferred Fuel Costs

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

    (Entergy Arkansas)

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

    (Entergy Gulf States)

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

    (Entergy Louisiana)

    As discussed in Note 2 to the domestic utility companies and System Energy financial statements in the Form 10-K, in August 2000, the LPSC authorized its staff to initiate a proceeding to audit the fuel adjustment clause filings of Entergy Louisiana pursuant to a November 1997 LPSC general order. The time period that is the subject of the audit is January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001. In September 2003, the LPSC staff issued its audit report and recommended a disallowance with regard to one item. The issue relates to the alleged failure to uprate Waterford 3 in a timely manner, a claim that also has been raised in the summer 2001, 2002, and 2003 purchased power proceedings. The settlement approved by the LPSC in March 2005, discussed above, resolves the uprate imprudence disallowance and is no longer at issue in this proceeding.

    (Entergy Mississippi)

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

    (Entergy New Orleans)

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

    Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71

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

    Texas (Entergy Gulf States)

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

    In February 2005, bills were submitted in the Texas Legislature that would clarify that Entergy Gulf States is no longer subject to a rate freeze and specify that retail open access will not commence in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory until the PUCT certifies a power region. A substitute bill was passed by the Texas House of Representatives in April 2005, and is now being considered by the Texas Senate. The substitute bill changed several provisions of the original bills to address concerns raised in the legislative process. The substitute bill provides that:

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

     

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

    The short-term borrowings of the domestic utility companies and System Energy are limited to amounts authorized by the SEC. The current limits authorized are effective through November 30, 2007. In addition to borrowing from commercial banks, the domestic utility companies and System Energy are authorized to borrow from Entergy's money pool. The money pool is an inter-company borrowing arrangement designed to reduce the domestic utility companies' dependence on external short-term borrowings. Borrowings from the money pool and external borrowings combined may not exceed the SEC authorized limits. The following are the short-term borrowings from the money pool and the SEC-authorized limits for short-term borrowings for the domestic utility companies and System Energy as of March 31, 2005:

     

     

    Authorized

     

    Borrowings

     

     

    (In Millions)

     

     

     

     

     

    Entergy Arkansas

     

    $235

     

    -

    Entergy Gulf States

     

    $340

     

    $19.6

    Entergy Louisiana

     

    $225

     

    -

    Entergy Mississippi

     

    $160

     

    -

    Entergy New Orleans

     

    $100

     

    $3.9

    System Energy

     

    $140

     

    -

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


    Company

     


    Expiration Date

     

    Amount of
    Facility

     

    Amount Drawn as of
    March 31, 2005

                 

    Entergy Arkansas

     

    April 2006

     

    $85 million

     

    -

    Entergy Louisiana

     

    July 2005

     

    $15 million (a)

     

    -

    Entergy Mississippi

     

    May 2006

     

    $25 million

     

    -

    Entergy New Orleans

     

    July 2005

     

    $14 million (a)

     

    -

    (a)

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

    In April 2005, Entergy Arkansas renewed its 364-day credit facility through April 2006 and Entergy Mississippi renewed its 364-day facility through May 2006. Also, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans extended their 364-day credit facilities through July 2005. Prior to the expiration, it is expected that Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans will renew their 364-day credit facilities through May 2006.

    The 364-day credit facilities have variable interest rates and the average commitment fee is 0.13%. The Entergy Arkansas facility requires it to maintain total shareholders' equity of at least 25% of its total assets.

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

     

    Issue Date

     

    Amount

     

     

     

    (In Thousands)

    Mortgage Bonds:

     

     

     

    5.66% Series due February 2025 - Entergy Arkansas

    January 2005

     

    $175,000

    6.18% Series due March 2035 - Entergy Gulf States

    February 2005

     

    $85,000

     

     

     

     

    Governmental Bonds:

     

     

     

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


    March 2005

     


    $45,000

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

     

    Retirement Date

     

    Amount

     

     

     

    (In Thousands)

    Mortgage Bonds:

     

     

     

    7.00% Series due October 2023 - Entergy Arkansas

    February 2005

     

    $175,000

    Other Long-Term Debt:

     

     

     

    Grand Gulf Lease Obligation payment, System Energy

    N/A

     

    $28,790

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


    March 2005

     


    $87,629

    Retirements after the balance sheet date:      
    9.0% Series due May 2015, West Feliciana Parish - Louisiana (Entergy Gulf States)


    May 2005

      $45,000
    7.5% Series due May 2015, West Feliciana Parish - Louisiana (Entergy Gulf States)


    May 2005

      $41,600

    Entergy Arkansas used the proceeds from the March 2005 issuance to redeem, prior to maturity, $45 million of 6.25% Series of Independence County bonds in April 2005. The issuance is shown as a non-cash transaction on the cash flow statement since the proceeds were placed in a trust and never held as cash by Entergy Arkansas.

    Tax Exempt Bond Audit (Entergy Louisiana)

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

     

    NOTE 4. RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

    Components of Net Pension Cost

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

     

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    System

    2005

     

    Arkansas

     

    Gulf States

     

    Louisiana

     

    Mississippi

     

    New Orleans

     

    Energy

     

     

    (In Thousands)

    Service cost - benefits earned

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    during the period

     

    $3,329 

     

    $2,704 

     

    $1,957 

     

    $1,005 

     

    $436 

     

    $944 

    Interest cost on projected

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    benefit obligation

     

    9,115 

     

    7,235 

     

    5,525 

     

    2,998 

     

    1,148 

     

    1,413 

    Expected return on assets

     

    (9,009)

     

    (9,709)

     

    (6,666)

     

    (3,566)

     

    (731)

     

    (1,324)

    Amortization of transition asset

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (69)

    Amortization of prior service cost

     

    415 

     

    378 

     

    163 

     

    128 

     

    57 

     

    17 

    Amortization of loss

     

    1,613 

     

    1,213 

     

    730 

     

    527 

     

    151 

     

    229 

    Net pension cost

     

    $5,463 

     

    $1,821 

     

    $1,709 

     

    $1,092 

     

    $1,061 

     

    $1,210 

     

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    System

    2004

     

    Arkansas

     

    Gulf States

     

    Louisiana

     

    Mississippi

     

    New Orleans

     

    Energy

     

     

    (In Thousands)

    Service cost - benefits earned

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    during the period

     

    $3,003 

     

    $2,454 

     

    $1,724 

     

    $954 

     

    $425 

     

    $845 

    Interest cost on projected

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    benefit obligation

     

    8,617 

     

    7,111 

     

    5,183 

     

    2,891 

     

    1,042 

     

    1,232 

    Expected return on assets

     

    (9,245)

     

    (9,892)

     

    (6,796)

     

    (3,691)

     

    (928)

     

    (1,034)

    Amortization of transition asset

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (80)

    Amortization of prior service cost

     

    417 

     

    465 

     

    189 

     

    141 

     

    57 

     

    18 

    Amortization of loss

     

    868 

     

    641 

     

    297 

     

    285 

     

    59 

     

    113 

    Net pension cost

     

    $3,660 

     

    $779 

     

    $597 

     

    $580 

     

    $655 

     

    $1,094 

    Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefit Cost

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

     

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    System

    2005

     

    Arkansas

     

    Gulf States

     

    Louisiana

     

    Mississippi

     

    New Orleans

     

    Energy

     

     

    (In Thousands)

    Service cost - benefits earned

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    during the period

     

    $1,157 

     

    $1,634 

     

    $689 

     

    $363 

     

    $192 

     

    $415 

    Interest cost on APBO

     

    2,589 

     

    2,924 

     

    1,673 

     

    833 

     

    789 

     

    394 

    Expected return on assets

     

    (1,637)

     

    (1,366)

     

     

    (669)

     

    (579)

     

    (387)

    Amortization of transition obligation

     

    205 

     

    947 

     

    95 

     

    88 

     

    435 

     

    Amortization of prior service cost

     

    (173)

     

     

    18 

     

    (46)

     

    10 

     

    (139)

    Amortization of loss

     

    1,276 

     

    770 

     

    691 

     

    471 

     

    211 

     

    146 

    Net other postretirement benefit cost

     

    $3,417 

     

    $4,909 

     

    $3,166 

     

    $1,040 

     

    $1,058 

     

    $433 

     

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    System

    2004

     

    Arkansas

     

    Gulf States

     

    Louisiana

     

    Mississippi

     

    New Orleans

     

    Energy

     

     

    (In Thousands)

    Service cost - benefits earned

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    during the period

     

    $1,632 

     

    $1,529 

     

    $720 

     

    $477 

     

    $205 

     

    $388 

    Interest cost on APBO

     

    2,833 

     

    2,941 

     

    1,701 

     

    878 

     

    827 

     

    388 

    Expected return on assets

     

    (1,603)

     

    (1,236)

     

     

    (653)

     

    (566)

     

    (310)

    Amortization of transition obligation

     

    609 

     

    1,147 

     

    300 

     

    254 

     

    529 

     

    Amortization of prior service cost

     

     

     

     

     

     

    (91)

    Amortization of loss

     

    1,074 

     

    651 

     

    562 

     

    348 

     

    156 

     

    131 

    Net other postretirement benefit cost

     

    $4,545 

     

    $5,032 

     

    $3,283 

     

    $1,304 

     

    $1,151 

     

    $510 

    Employer Contributions

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

     

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    System

     

     

    Arkansas

     

    Gulf States

     

    Louisiana

     

    Mississippi

     

    New Orleans

     

    Energy

     

     

    (In Thousands)

    Expected 2005 pension contributions

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    disclosed in Form 10-K

     

    $20,560

     

    $18,948

     

    $2,622

     

    $3,416

     

    $15,667

     

    $9,266

    Revised expected 2005 pension contributions

     

    $13,802

    $21,893

     

     

    $3,416

     

    $21,281

     

    $12,305

    Pension contributions made through April 2005

     

    $2,002

    $12,425

     

     

    $512

     

    $12,078

     

    $6,358

    Remaining estimated pension contributions to be made in 2005

     

    $11,800

    $9,468

     

     

    $2,904

     

    $9,203

     

    $5,947

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

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

     

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    Entergy

     

    System

     

     

    Arkansas

     

    Gulf States

     

    Louisiana

     

    Mississippi

     

    New Orleans

     

    Energy

     

     

    (In Thousands)

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Reduction in 12/31/2004 APBO

     

    ($35,928)

     

    ($31,846)

     

    ($20,085)

     

    ($12,227)

     

    ($9,742)

     

    ($4,982)

    Reduction in first quarter 2005

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

      other postretirement benefit cost

     

    ($1,446)

     

    ($1,269)

     

    ($790)

     

    ($476)

     

    ($350)

     

    ($245)

    Reduction in first quarter 2004

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

      other postretirement benefit cost

     

    ($498)

     

    ($554)

     

    ($232)

     

    ($156)

     

    ($144)

     

    ($53)

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

    __________________________________

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

     

    Item 4. Controls and Procedures

    Disclosure Controls and Procedures

    As of March 31, 2005, evaluations were performed under the supervision and with the participation of Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy Resources (individually "Registrant" and collectively the "Registrants") management, including their respective Chief Executive Officers (CEO) and Chief Financial Officers (CFO). The evaluations assessed the effectiveness of the Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the evaluations, each CEO and CFO has concluded that, as to the Registrant or Registrants for which they serve as CEO or CFO, the Registrants' disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by each Registrant in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms.

     

    ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

    PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

    Item 1. Legal Proceedings

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

    Entergy Louisiana Formula Ratemaking Plan Lawsuit

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

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

    Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)

    Period

     

    Total Number of
    Shares Purchased

     

    Average Price Paid
    per Share

     

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

     

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

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    1/01/2005-1/31/2005

     

    2,820,000

     

    $66.47

     

    2,820,000

     

    $836,304,437

    2/01/2005-2/28/2005

     

    2,078,500

     

    $70.50

     

    2,078,500

     

    $750,138,283

    3/01/2005-3/31/2005

     

    695,100

     

    $69.79

     

    695,100

     

    $728,763,293

    Total

     

    5,593,600

     

    $68.38

     

    5,593,600

     

     

    (1)

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

    (2)

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

    Item 5. Other Information

    Federal Regulation

    FERC Audits

    The FERC is currently reviewing certain wholesale sales and purchases involving EPMC that occurred during the 1998-2001 time period and similar transactions that Entergy-Koch Trading may have undertaken. EPMC was an Entergy subsidiary engaged in non-regulated wholesale marketing and trading activities prior to the formation of Entergy-Koch. Entergy is working with the FERC investigation staff to provide information regarding these transactions.

    Other Customer-initiated Proceedings at the FERC

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

    On January 24, 2005 Cottonwood Energy Company, L.P., an independent generator, filed with the FERC a rate schedule for reactive power that proposes to impose on Entergy Gulf States a rate for reactive supply service allegedly supplied by Cottonwood's electric generating facility. Cottonwood has proposed a fixed monthly charge of $0.3 million, which according to Cottonwood represents its revenue requirement for reactive power service. Entergy believes that independent generators should only be compensated for reactive power to the extent that they have an affirmative and continual obligation to provide reactive power support beyond their power factor range when directed to do so by the transmission provider, and is opposing Cottonwood's rate schedule. On March 23, 2005, the FERC accepted Cottonwood's proposed reactive power rate schedule for filing effective on February 1, 2005, subject to refund, and established hearing and settlement judge procedures. Cottonwood and Entergy Gulf States are currently engaged in settlement discussions pursuant to the FERC order. A procedural schedule for a hearing has not yet been established.

    Environmental Regulation

    See "PART I, Item 1, Clean Air Act and Subsequent Amendments, Hazardous Air Pollutants" in the Form 10-K for information related to the hazardous air pollutant emissions reduction programs. In March 2005, the EPA issued a rule to permanently cap and reduce mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. The Clean Air Mercury Rule establishes "standards of performance" limiting mercury emissions from new and existing coal-fired power plants and creates a market-based cap-and-trade program that will reduce nationwide utility emissions of mercury in two distinct phases. The first phase cap is 38 tons beginning in 2010. Entergy owns units that will be subject to the mercury regulations and is studying compliance options in order to determine the best control alternative. Entergy expects that any necessary capital expenditures will occur between 2006 and 2009, and ongoing operating costs will begin in 2010.

    See "PART I, Item 1, Clean Air Act and Subsequent Amendments, Interstate Air Transport" in the Form 10-K for information related to SO2 and NOX emissions reduction programs. In March 2005, the EPA finalized the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), which will reduce SO2 and NOX emissions from electric generation plants in order to improve air quality in 28 eastern states. The rule will require a combination of capital investment to install pollution control equipment and increased operating costs. Entergy's capital investment and annual operation and maintenance allowance purchase costs will depend on the economic assessment of NOX and SO2 allowance markets, the cost of control technologies, and unit usage. The capital financial impact could be offset by emission markets which allow for purchases or use of allocated credits; however, the allocation of the emission allowances and the set up of the market wil l determine the ultimate cost to Entergy. Entergy is concerned that the allocation may be unfairly skewed towards states with relatively higher emissions. Entergy will continue to study the final rule's impact to its generation fleet and will work to ensure that all states are treated fairly in the allocation of emission credits.

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

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

     

    Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     

    Twelve Months Ended

     

    December 31,

     

    March 31,

     

    2000

     

    2001

     

    2002

     

    2003

     

    2004

     

    2005

                           

    Entergy Arkansas

    3.01

     

    3.29

     

    2.79

     

    3.17

     

    3.37

     

    3.55

    Entergy Gulf States

    2.60

     

    2.36

     

    2.49

     

    1.51

     

    3.04

     

    2.92

    Entergy Louisiana

    3.33

     

    2.76

     

    3.14

     

    3.93

     

    3.60

     

    3.13

    Entergy Mississippi

    2.33

     

    2.14

     

    2.48

     

    3.06

     

    3.41

     

    3.40

    Entergy New Orleans

    2.66

     

    (a)

     

    (b)

     

    1.73

     

    3.60

     

    3.52

    System Energy

    2.41

     

    2.12

     

    3.25

     

    3.66

     

    3.95

     

    4.08

     

    Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges
    and Preferred Dividends

     

    Twelve Months Ended

     

    December 31,

     

    March 31,

     

    2000

     

    2001

     

    2002

     

    2003

     

    2004

     

    2005

                           

    Entergy Arkansas

    2.70

     

    2.99

     

    2.53

     

    2.79

     

    2.98

     

    3.15

    Entergy Gulf States

    2.39

     

    2.21

     

    2.40

     

    1.45

     

    2.90

     

    2.79

    Entergy Louisiana

    2.93

     

    2.51

     

    2.86

     

    3.46

     

    3.16

     

    2.77

    Entergy Mississippi

    2.09

     

    1.96

     

    2.27

     

    2.77

     

    3.07

     

    3.06

    Entergy New Orleans

    2.43

     

    (a)

     

    (b)

     

    1.59

     

    3.31

     

    3.23

    (a)

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

    (b)

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

    Item 6. Exhibits

    (a) Exhibits*

     

    10(a) -

    Second Amendment of the System Executive Continuity Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries, effective April 15, 2005.

         
     

    10(b) -

    Purchase and Sale Agreement by and between Central Mississippi Generating Company, LLC and Entergy Mississippi, Inc., dated as of March 16, 2005.

         
     

    31(a) -

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

         
     

    31(b) -

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

         
     

    31(c) -

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

         
     

    31(d) -

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

         
     

    31(e) -

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

         
     

    31(f) -

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

         
     

    31(g) -

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

         
     

    31(h) -

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

         
     

    31(i) -

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

         
     

    31(j) -

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

         
     

    32(a) -

    Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Corporation.

         
     

    32(b) -

    Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Corporation.

         
     

    32(c) -

    Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Arkansas.

         
     

    32(d) -

    Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Gulf States.

         
     

    32(e) -

    Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana.

         
     

    32(f) -

    Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Mississippi.

         
     

    32(g) -

    Section 1350 Certification for Entergy New Orleans.

         
     

    32(h) -

    Section 1350 Certification for System Energy.

         
     

    32(i) -

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

         
     

    32(j) -

    Section 1350 Certification for System Energy.

         
     

    99(a) -

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

         
     

    99(b) -

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

         
     

    99(c) -

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

         
     

    99(d) -

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

         
     

    99(e) -

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

         
     

    99(f) -

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

    ___________________________

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

    *

    Reference is made to a duplicate list of exhibits being filed as a part of this report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005, which list, prepared in accordance with Item 102 of Regulation S-T of the SEC, immediately precedes the exhibits being filed with this report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2005.

       

    **

    Incorporated herein by reference as indicated.

     

     

    SIGNATURE

     

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

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

     

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

     

    Date: May 4, 2005

     

     

    EX-10 2 a10a.htm

    Exhibit 10(a)

    SYSTEM EXECUTIVE CONTINUITY PLAN OF
    ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
    (As Amended and Restated Effective March 8, 2004)

    Certificate of Amendment

    Amendment No. 2

                THIS INSTRUMENT, executed this 15th day of April, 2005, but made effective as of March 8, 2004 ("Effective Date"), constitutes the Second Amendment of the System Executive Continuity Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries, as amended and restated effective March 8, 2004 (the "Plan"). All capitalized terms used in this document shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Plan unless otherwise defined in this document.

                Pursuant to Section 8.01 of the Plan and resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of Entergy Corporation at its meeting held on March 8, 2004, this clarifying amendment limits the severance benefits paid to Plan Participants, except as otherwise provided herein, to the maximum amount allowed under the Severance Policy without shareholder approval.

      1. Plan Section 4.01(c) is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

      2.  
        1. If there should occur a Change in Control and if, within the Change in Control Period, a Participant has a Qualifying Event, then such Participant shall be entitled to receive, subject to the limitation provisions of Section 4.09 and the forfeiture provisions of Section 6.01, the Plan benefits set forth in Sections 4.02 and 4.03 with respect to Participants at his System Management Level. A Participant's benefits shall be determined by reference to his System Management Level on the date immediately preceding the commencement of the Change in Control Period.
           

      3. The beginning of the first sentence of Section 4.02 is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:
      4. A Participant satisfying all of the terms and conditions of this Plan shall be entitled to receive, in lieu of any further salary payments to the Participant for periods subsequent to the Date of Termination, but subject to the limitation provisions of Section 4.09 and the forfeiture provisions of Section 6.01, a single-sum cash payment calculated and payable in accordance with the following:

      5. Article IV of the Plan is hereby amended by adding a new Section 4.09 at the end of that Article to read as follows:

    4.09 Benefit Limitation. Notwithstanding any provision of this Plan to the contrary and except for those named Participants in the immediately following sentence to whom this Section 4.09 does not apply, the value of the benefits payable to a Participant under the terms of Section 4.02 shall not in the aggregate exceed 2.99 times the sum of: (a) Participant's annual base salary as in effect at any time within one year prior to commencement of a Change in Control Period or, if higher, immediately prior to a circumstance constituting Good Reason plus (b) the higher of: (i) the annual incentive award actually awarded to the Participant under the EAIP for the fiscal year of Entergy Corporation immediately preceding the fiscal year in which the Participant's termination of employment occurs; (ii) the Target Award for such Participant for the fiscal year of Entergy Corporation in which the Participant's termination of employment occurs; or (iii) the Target Award for such Participant f or the fiscal year of Entergy Corporation in which the Change in Control Period commences. The benefit limitation set forth in this Section 4.09 shall not apply to the following named Participants for as long as they continuously remain a Participant in the Plan at their current or higher System Management Level: Richard J. Smith, Curtis L. Hebert, Gary J. Taylor, Robert D. Sloan and Mark T. Savoff.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Board of Directors of Entergy Corporation has caused this Second Amendment to the System Executive Continuity Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries to be executed by its duly authorized representative on the day, month, and year above set forth.

                                                                              ENTERGY CORPORATION
                                                                                                       through the undersigned duly authorized representative

                                                                              /s/ WILLIAM E. MADISON
                                                                              WILLIAM E. MADISON
                                                                              Senior Vice-President,
                                                                              Human Resources and Administration

    EX-10 3 a10b.htm

    Exhibit 10(b)

     

     

     

    PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

    by and between

    CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI GENERATING COMPANY, LLC

    and

    ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.,

    Dated as of March 16, 2005

     

     

     

    EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

      

    Item

    Description

    Exhibit A-1, A-2

    Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

    Exhibit B

    Form of Bill of Sale

    Exhibit C

    Form of Deed

    Exhibit D

    Form of Letter of Credit

    Exhibit E

    Form of Termination of Pre-Closing Interconnection Letter

    Schedule 1.1A

    Certain Permitted Encumbrances

    Schedule 1.1B

    Purchaser's Required Consents

    Schedule 1.1C

    Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals

    Schedule 1.1D

    Preliminary Title Commitment

    Schedule 2.1(a)

    Owned Real Property

    Schedule 2.1(b)

    Leased Real Property

    Schedule 2.1(c)

    Tangible Personal Property

    Schedule 2.1(d)

    Purchased Inventory

    Schedule 2.1(e)

    Purchased Project Contracts

    Schedule 2.1(f)

    Permits

    Schedule 2.1(g)

    Books and Records

    Schedule 2.1(h)

    Warranties

    Schedule 2.1(i)

    Claims and Causes of Action

    Schedule 2.1(j)

    Prepaid Items

    Schedule 2.2(b)

    Specified Excluded Assets

    Schedule 2.2(g)

     Advance Payments

    Schedule 4.4

    Compliance With Laws

    Schedule 4.7

    Litigation

    Schedule 4.8

    Project Contracts and Other Contracts

    Schedule 4.9

    Purchased Project Contract Matters

    Schedule 4.11

    Owned Real Property

    Schedule 4.12

    Leased Real and Personal Property

    Schedule 4.13

    Condition of Purchased Assets; Defects

    Schedule 4.16

    Environmental Matters

    Schedule 4.23(b)

    Undisclosed Liabilities

    Schedule 4.24

    Adverse Material Change to Purchased Assets

    Schedule 4.25

    Seller's Required Consents and Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals

    Schedule 4.26

    Certain Changes Since Seller's Acquisition of Project

    Schedule 5.5

    Purchaser Litigation

    Schedule 6.4

    Exceptions to Conduct Pending Closing

    Schedule 6.12

    Designated NAES Employees

    Schedule 8.7

    Certain Title Insurance Exceptions

     

    PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

    THIS PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, dated as of March 16, 2005, is made and entered into by and between Central Mississippi Generating Company, LLC, a limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware ("Seller"), and Entergy Mississippi, Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Mississippi ("Purchaser").

    RECITALS

            A.     Seller owns the Project (as defined in Article 1).

            B.     Seller desires to sell, transfer and assign to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from Seller, all of Seller's right, title and interest in and to the Purchased Assets on the terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth.

            C.     Seller and Purchaser are entering into this Agreement to evidence their respective duties, obligations and responsibilities in respect of the purchase and sale and related transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements as defined in Article 1 (the "Transactions").

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the agreements contained herein, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, do hereby agree as follows:

    ARTICLE 1

    DEFINITIONS

    Section 1.1    Certain Defined Terms. The following terms when used in this Agreement (or in the Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement) with initial letters capitalized have the meanings set forth below:

    "Adjustment Sections" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

    "Affiliate" means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

    "Agreement" means this Purchase and Sale Agreement, together with the Schedules and Exhibits hereto.

    "Ancillary Agreements" means (i) the Bill of Sale, (ii) the Deed, (iii) the Assignment and Assumption Agreements, (iv) any additional agreements and instruments of sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment and assumption that may be executed and delivered by any Party at the Closing, (v) the Letter of Credit and (vi) the Transmission Purchase Agreements.

    "Asserted Purchaser Claims" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(a).

    "Assignment and Assumption Agreements" means the Assignment and Assumption Agreements, substantially in the form of Exhibits A-1 and A-2, to be executed and delivered by Seller and Purchaser at the Closing.

    "Assumed Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

    "Bankrupt" means, with respect to any entity, such entity (i) files a petition or otherwise commences, authorizes or acquiesces in the commencement of a proceeding or cause of action under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar law, or has any such petition filed or commenced against it, (ii) makes an assignment or any general arrangement for the benefit of creditors, (iii) otherwise becomes bankrupt or insolvent (however evidenced), (iv) has a liquidator, administrator, receiver, trustee, conservator or similar official appointed with respect to it or any substantial portion of its property or assets, or (v) is generally unable to pay its debts as they fall due.

    "Bill of Sale" means a Bill of Sale, substantially in the form of Exhibit B, to be executed and delivered by Seller at the Closing.

    "Business" means the business of operating the Project and generating, selling and delivering electric energy and providing Other Associated Electric Products from the Project.

    "Business Day" means any day on which Federal Reserve member banks in New York, New York are open for business; and a Business Day shall commence at 8:00 a.m. and close at 5:00 p.m., local time, at the location of the applicable Party's principal place of business, or at such other location as the context may require.

    "Closing" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

    "Closing Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

    "Closing Inventory Report" means an Inventory Report dated as of the Closing Date.

    "COBRA" means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986.

    "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

    "Commercially Reasonable Efforts" means efforts which are reasonably within or should have been reasonably within the contemplation of the Parties on the Effective Date and which do not require the performing Party to expend funds or incur obligations other than expenditures and obligations which are customary and reasonable in transactions of the kind and nature contemplated by this Agreement. With respect to expenditures required to satisfy Seller's obligations to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts under this Agreement:

            (a)     For Seller's obligations to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts other than those described in paragraphs (b) and (c) below, Seller shall be required to expend up to, but shall not be required to expend more than, $500,000 in aggregate payments to third parties to satisfy any and all such obligations.

            (b)     For Seller's obligations to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts for those actions described in Section 2.5(a)(ii), Seller shall be required to expend up to, but shall not be required to expend more than, $500,000 in aggregate payments to third parties to satisfy any and all such obligations (such payments being in addition to those payments described in paragraph (a) above).

            (c)     Seller shall not be required to expend any funds in order to obtain any consent to transfer to Purchaser any of the Other Software Licenses.

            (d)     The limitations in paragraphs (a)-(c) above shall not apply to Seller's obligations to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts other than with respect to payments to third parties, shall not apply to payments to counsel for Seller, shall not apply to expenditures resulting from the application of provisions other than those expressly requiring Commercially Reasonable Efforts, such as the provisions allocating costs and expenses in Section 6.2, and shall not apply to any obligations to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts under Sections 6.8 or 6.16.

    "Confidentiality Agreement" means that certain Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2004, between ESI and Seller.

    "Consumables" means any and all of the following items of Inventory intended to be consumed or needing regular periodic replacement at the Project in the ordinary course of the conduct of the Business: lubricants, chemicals, fluids, lubricating oils, filters, seals, gaskets, and other similar expendable materials; maintenance, shop and office supplies; and all other expendable materials, supplies and other items consumed at the Project in the ordinary course of the conduct of the Business.

    "Contract" means any contract, agreement, arrangement, license, easement, lease, commitment, sale and purchase order, and other instrument or understanding of any kind, whether written or oral, express or implied.

    "Damaged Portion" has the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(b).

    "Deed" means one or more Deeds, substantially in the form of Exhibit C, conveying each of the Owned Real Properties included in the Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances, with legal descriptions suitable for conveyance of such Owned Real Properties of record, to be executed and delivered by Seller at the Closing.

    "Designated NAES Employees" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.12(b).

    "Dispute" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.8(a).

    "Easements" means all easements, rights-of-way, privileges, franchises, licenses and other similar agreements existing for the benefit of Real Property, including those specified in Schedule 2.1(a).

    "Effective Date" means the date on which this Agreement has been executed and delivered by Seller and Purchaser.

    "Electric Interconnection Facilities" means all structures, facilities, equipment, auxiliary equipment, devices and apparatus directly or indirectly required or installed to interconnect and deliver electric energy from the Project to the applicable delivery points and including, electric transmission and/or distribution lines, transformation, switching, electric metering equipment, any other metering equipment, communications equipment, and safety equipment, including, but not limited to, equipment required to protect (i) the electrical system to which the Project is connected and its customers from faults occurring at the Project and (ii) the Project from faults occurring on the electrical system to which the Project is connected or on other electrical systems to which such electrical system is directly or indirectly connected.

    "Emission Allowances" means all authorizations to emit specified units of Hazardous Substances from the Project or the Project Site, which units are established by a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Project or the Project Site under Environmental Law, including without limitation under (i) an air pollution control and emission reduction program designed to mitigate global warming or interstate or intrastate transport of air pollutants, (ii) a program designed to mitigate impairment of surface waters, watersheds or groundwater, or (iii) any pollution reduction program with a similar purpose, in each case regardless of whether the Governmental Authority establishing such authorizations designates such authorizations by a name other than "allowances."

    "Encumbrances" means any and all mortgages, pledges, claims, liens, security interests, options, warrants, purchase rights, conditional and installment sales agreements, easements, activity and use restrictions and limitations, exceptions, rights-of-way, deed restrictions, defects or imperfections of title, encumbrances and charges of any kind.

    "Entergy Operating Companies" means Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., and Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

    "Entergy System" means the transmission system of the Entergy Operating Companies, or of any entity succeeding to the ownership or control thereof, with a substation located near the Project.

    "Environment" means the environment, including without limitation, any of the following media and any living organism or systems supported by any such media: (a) land, including surface land, sub-surface strata, sea bed and riverbed under water (as defined in clause (b) hereof) and any natural or man-made structures; (b) water, including coastal and inland waters, navigable waters, surface waters, ground waters, drinking water supplies and waters in drains and sewers, surface and sub-surface strata; and (c) air, including indoor and outdoor air and air within buildings and other man-made or natural structure above or below ground.

    "Environmental Assessment" means an environmental site assessment with respect to the Project and the Project Site, prepared by the Environmental Consultant and performed in compliance with standard ASTM E1527-00 or any such other measures as required by EPA regulation to meet the "all appropriate inquiry" standard of CERCLA Section 101 in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser, in Purchaser's sole discretion. A copy of the initial Environmental Assessment, dated September 22, 2004, prepared by the Environmental Consultant, has been supplied to Seller. If, in its discretion, Purchaser elects to conduct a final Environmental Assessment, the same shall be completed by Purchaser at its sole cost and expense not later than sixty (60) days in advance of the Closing Date.

    "Environmental Claim" means, without limitation, any pending or threatened written notice, claim, demand or other communication by any Person alleging or asserting a Party's or any other Person's actual or potential liability for investigation, response, investigation costs, cleanup costs, compliance costs, enforcement costs, response costs, suits (whether in law or in equity), defense costs, capital expenditures (whether incurred to construct, alter, replace or modify any of the Purchased Assets as necessary for a Party to perform its obligations under this Agreement or otherwise) or the funding necessary therefor, actual damages, consequential damages, punitive damages, claims for contribution or indemnity, damages to natural resources or other property, personal injuries (including those arising from or related to toxic torts), fines or penalties, based on or resulting from, in whole or in part: (a) the presence or Release of any Hazardous Substances at any location, whether or n ot on property owned by such Person; (b) circumstances forming the basis of any violation or alleged violation of or legal obligation or liability pursuant to any Environmental Law; or (c) claims for Remediation or costs associated with Remediation.

    "Environmental Condition" means the presence or Release of a Hazardous Substance in the Environment with the respect to the Project or the Project Site (wherever migrating) for which there is an obligation under Environmental Law to engage in any monitoring, investigation, assessment, treatment, cleanup, containment, removal, mitigation, reporting, response or restorative work, or concerning which a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over such matter has required or may require the foregoing activities under Environment Laws.

    "Environmental Consultant" means Malcolm Pirnie, Inc., or such other recognized environmental consulting firm as shall be acceptable to Purchaser and retained by Purchaser at its cost.

    "Environmental Law" means any federal, state and local statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, decrees, judgments and judicial or administrative orders or common law relating to pollution or protection of the Environment or natural resources, including, without limitation, laws relating to Releases of Hazardous Substances or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport, disposal or handling of Hazardous Substances, including, without limitation: the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. Section 1471 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. Sections 2601 through 2629; the Oil Pollution Act, 33 U.S.C. Section 2701 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 11001 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. Sections 300f through 300j; the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, 30 U.S.C. Section 1201 et seq.; any similar laws of the State of Mississippi or of any other Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Project or the Project Site.

    "Environmental Liability" means any Environmental Losses which (i) arise under or relate to any Environmental Condition or Environmental Claim, or (ii) are attributable to actions occurring or conditions existing on or prior to the Closing Date in violation of any Environmental Laws.

    "Environmental Loss" means, without limitation, all liabilities, losses, claims, debts, assessments, deficiencies, charges, demands, fines, penalties, costs, expenses, damages, natural resource damages, reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, costs of Remediation, liens or other claims against property or improvements thereon for work, labor or services performed with respect thereto or other obligations of any kind, character or description (whether absolute, contingent, matured, liquidated, unliquidated, accrued, known, unknown, direct, indirect, derivative or otherwise) and expressly including those related to an indemnified Party's own negligence, pertaining or relating directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, to an Environmental Claim or Environmental Condition.

    "Environmental Permit" means any federal, state or local Permit under or in connection with any Environmental Law, and includes without limitation any and all orders, consent orders or binding agreements issued or entered into by a Governmental Authority under any applicable Environmental Law relating to the Project or the Project Site.

    "Environmental Report" means any environmental audit, environmental risk assessment, environmental site assessment or other investigation of Environmental Conditions at or related to the Project or the Project Site.

    "ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.

    "ESI" means Entergy Services, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

    "ESI as Agent" means ESI as Agent for one or more of the Entergy Operating Companies, pursuant to that certain Amended and Restated Entergy System Agency Agreement, dated as of May 1, 2003, by and among said Entergy Services, Inc. and the Entergy Operating Companies.

    "Estimated Closing Adjustment" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.

    "Estimated Closing Statement" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.

    "Estimated Cost" shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 6.8(b)(i) and 6.16(a)(i).

    "Estimated Limit Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 6.8(c) and 6.16(d).

    "EWG" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.20.

    "Excluded Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.

    "Excluded Liabilities" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4.

    "Expiration Date" means the date of the three year anniversary of this Agreement, as such date may be extended pursuant to Sections 6.8 or 6.16.

    "FERC" means the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as established by the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, 42 U.S.C. Section 7171, or its regulatory successor, as applicable.

    "Final Allocation" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.

    "Final Closing Adjustment" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5.

    "First Meeting Deadline" shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 11.8(b).

    "Fuel" means natural gas or fuel oil of sufficient quality to meet all technical specifications of the Project.

    "GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time, applied on a consistent basis.

    "Gas Interconnection Facilities" means all structures, pipelines, facilities, equipment, auxiliary equipment, devices and apparatus directly or indirectly required or installed to interconnect and deliver natural gas from the applicable delivery points for natural gas from the TETCO pipeline to the Project's electric generation units.

    "GEII" means General Electric International Inc., a Delaware corporation.

    "Good Utility Practices" means those practices, methods and acts engaged in or approved by a significant portion of the electric utility and power generation industry during the relevant time period, or any of the practices, methods and acts which, in the exercise of reasonable judgment by a prudent electric utility in light of the facts known at the time a decision is made, could have been expected to accomplish a desired result at reasonable cost consistent with good business practices, reliability, safety and expedition and in compliance with Law. Good Utility Practices are not intended to be limited to the optimum practices, methods or acts to the exclusion of others, but rather to those practices, methods and acts generally accepted or approved by a significant portion of the electric utility industry in the relevant region, during the relevant time period, as described in the immediately preceding sentence.

    "Governmental Authority" means any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental subdivision, regulatory or administrative agency, commission, body, court or tribunal or other authority exercising or entitled to exercise any administrative, executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or Tax authority or power over the matters specified or if such matters are not specified over Seller, Purchaser, the Project, the Project Site, the Transactions or any related matter.

    "Hazardous Substances" means (a) any chemicals, materials, substances or wastes which are defined or regulated as "hazardous substances," "hazardous materials," "hazardous constituents," "restricted hazardous materials," "extremely hazardous substances," "hazardous wastes," "extremely hazardous wastes" "restricted hazardous wastes," "toxic substances," "toxic pollutants," "toxic air pollutants," "pollutants," "contaminants" or words of similar meaning and regulatory effect, including without limitation as the foregoing may be defined under any Environmental Law and (b) any other chemicals, materials, wastes or substances, the exposure to or treatment, storage, transportation, use, disposal or Release of which is prohibited, limited or regulated by any Environmental Law.

    "HSR Act" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.

    "Income Tax" means any Tax imposed by any Governmental Authority (i) based upon, measured by or calculated with respect to gross or net income, profits or receipts (including municipal gross receipt Taxes, capital gains Taxes and minimum Taxes) or (ii) based upon, measured by or calculated with respect to multiple bases (including corporate franchise Taxes) if one or more of such bases is described in clause (i), in each case together with any interest, penalties or additions attributable to such Tax.

    "Indemnitee" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.

    "Indemnitor" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.

    "Independent Accounting Firm" means such nationally recognized, independent accounting firm as is mutually appointed by Seller and Purchaser for purposes of this Agreement.

    "Independent Contractor" means any Person (with the exception of attorneys and accountants) working at, or providing services or consulting in any capacity or manner for or related to the Project, and who is considered under applicable law or by Seller as an independent contractor, agent or consultant, including NAES, R.W. Beck and Kelson Attala.

    "Initial Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2.

    "Intellectual Property Rights" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.14.

    "Intercompany Arrangements" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(m).

    "Interconnection Agreement" means an Interconnection Agreement in form satisfactory to Purchaser to be executed and delivered by Transmission Purchaser and Purchaser and become effective upon the Closing.

    "Interconnection and Service Charge Agreement" means an Interconnection and Service Charge Agreement in form satisfactory to Purchaser to be executed and delivered by Transmission Purchaser and Purchaser and become effective upon the Closing.

    "Interconnection Facilities Maintenance Agreement" means an Interconnection Facilities Maintenance Agreement in form satisfactory to Purchaser to be executed and delivered by Transmission Purchaser and Purchaser and become effective upon the Closing.

    "Interconnection Facilities" means all Electric Interconnection Facilities and Gas Interconnection Facilities.

    "Interim LTSA" means Seller's arrangements with GEII to provide customary maintenance of the combustion and steam turbines of the Project in compliance with GEII's technical requirements and information.

    "Inventory" means any and all of the inventory items and equipment intended to be used or consumed at the Project in the ordinary course of the conduct of the Business including Consumables, new, repaired or refurbished equipment, components, assemblies, sub-assemblies and spare, replacement or other parts; tools, special tools, equipment; and all associated materials, supplies, software and other goods and other similar items of moveable property.

    "Inventory Accounting Policies" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b).

    "Inventory Report" shall mean an inventory report prepared by Seller in the form set forth in Schedule 2.1(d).

    "Inventory Threshold" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b).

    "Inventory Value" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b).

    "Kelson Attala" means Kelson Attala, LLC.

    "Knowledge" or similar terms used in this Agreement with respect to a Party means:

            (a) in the case of Seller, the extent of the knowledge, as of the Effective Date (or, with respect to (i) the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 8.6, as of the date of delivery of the certificate and (ii) the matters set forth in Sections 6.3(a) and 11.14(c), as of the date that such knowledge is acquired), of David Patton after his due inquiry with Edward Burrell, Tom Corlett, Michael Chapman and Eric Emerson and, with respect to the matters in Sections 4.4, 4.5, 4.7 and 4.18, after his due inquiry with appropriate representatives of Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Kelson Attala and NAES; and

            (b) in the case of Purchaser, the extent of the knowledge, as of the Effective Date (or, with respect to (i) the certificate delivered pursuant to Section 9.6, as of the date of delivery of the certificate and (ii) the matters set forth in Sections 6.3(c) and 11.14(c), as of the date that such knowledge is acquired), of the following individuals whether or not employed by Purchaser: William Mohl, Marie Heard, Gary Dickens, Robert Malone, Cory Burton, Phil Carter, Trey Helle, Chuck Barlow, Carol St. Clair and Warren Page.

    For purposes of this definition, an individual shall be deemed to have "knowledge" of a particular fact, circumstance or other matter if such individual is or at any time was actually aware of such fact, circumstance or other matter.

    "Laws" means all statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders and codes of any and all Governmental Authorities.

    "Leased Real Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

    "Letter of Credit" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(a).

    "Letter of Intent" means that certain Letter of Intent, dated as of August 12, 2004, by and between Seller and ESI.

    "Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses" means a cash payment in the amount of (i) $2,000,000, if the event giving rise to the termination notice occurs prior to October 15, 2005, (ii) $3,500,000, if the event giving rise to termination notice occurs on or after October 15, 2005, but prior to October 15, 2006, and (iii) $4,500,000, if the event giving rise to termination notice occurs on or after October 15, 2006; provided, however, that the amount of Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses payable in respect of an event giving rise to Purchaser's right to terminate this Agreement shall be determined by reference to the earliest date on which a termination notice could have occurred based on such event, regardless of any waiver or delay in the giving of such notice; provided, further, however, that to the extent Purchaser shall at any time have the right to terminate this Agreement and receive Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses pursuant to more than one of the provisions of Section 10.1, and different amounts of Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses would be payable depending on which provision of Section 10.1 is made the basis of such Party's termination notice, only one of the amounts shall be payable and such amount shall be the greatest of the amounts of Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses.

    "Limit Date" shall have the meaning set forth in Sections 6.8(c) and 6.16(d).

    "Losses" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

    "Material Adverse Effect" with respect to Seller, means any occurrence set forth in clause (a) or clause (b) of this definition, and with respect to Purchaser, means any occurrence set forth in clause (a) of this definition: (a) any event, circumstance or condition materially impairing such Party's authority, right, or ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or to consummate the Transactions; or (b) any change (or changes taken together) in, or effect on, the Project that is materially adverse to the operations or physical condition of the Project, or the business, assets, properties, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Business, including any change (or changes taken together) or effect related to the Project that (i) causes or could reasonably be expected to cause a diminution in value of any of the Purchased Assets of $500,000 or more or (ii) causes, or could reasonably be expected to cause, an increase in the amount or cost of paying, performing or otherwise discharging any of the Assumed Liabilities of $500,000 or more; provided that in no event shall the term Material Adverse Effect include: (1) any changes in national or regional or electric industry economic conditions generally affecting the national or regional electric industry as a whole, (2) any changes in the price of natural gas generally prevailing in the SERC Region, (3) any changes in the price of real estate generally prevailing in the SERC Region, or (4) any changes in the price of electric generating facilities generally prevailing in the SERC region.

    "Material Software Licenses" shall mean the Purchased Project Contracts set forth on Schedule 2.1(e) under the caption "Software Licenses" that are described as items # 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 13, 14, 16 and 17 and any Replacement License Agreements.

    "Monthly Operating Report" shall mean a Monthly Management Report for the applicable period substantially in the form of those provided by Seller and delivered to Purchaser prior to the Effective Date, including therein technical discussions of energy management, financial results, operations and maintenance and regulatory compliance, with attached reports covering such matters as have been covered in reports previously provided by Seller or are otherwise reasonably requested by Purchaser.

    "NAES" means North American Energy Services Company.

    "NEG Contracts" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(k).

    "NEG Tolling Contract" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(k).

    "New LTSA" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.8.

    "Nonassignable Asset" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b).

    "Notice of Claim" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.

    "Order" means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration award of a Governmental Authority.

    "Other Associated Electric Products" means all of the services and products associated with capabilities or operational attributes or regulatory treatment of a generating unit, including but not limited to the capability to provide ancillary services, reserves, operational functions (e.g., black start capability), receipt or allocation or emissions allowances and other services and products.

    "Other Software Licenses" shall mean the Purchased Project Contracts set forth on Schedule 2.1(e) under the caption "Software Licenses" other than the Material Software Licenses.

    "Owned Real Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a).

    "Participating Entergy Operating Company Transactions" means any and all proposed purchases and sales of capacity, energy and/or Other Associated Electric Products of or from the Project at any time or from time to time after the Closing by any of the Participating Entergy Operating Companies.

    "Participating Entergy Operating Company" means Purchaser and any other Entergy Operating Company that becomes (or is expected to become) a permitted assignee of or successor to Purchaser hereunder on or before the Closing Date, or purchases (or is expected to purchase) any portion of the output of the Project from and after the Closing and designated by Purchaser as a "Participating Entergy Operating Company" in a written notice to Seller after the Effective Date.

    "Party" means Seller or Purchaser, as the context requires; "Parties" means, collectively, Seller and Purchaser.

    "Permits" means permits, registrations, licenses, franchises, certificates and other consents, approvals and authorizations of Governmental Authorities to the extent related to the Project or the Business.

    "Permitted Encumbrances" means (i) liens for Property Taxes and other governmental charges and assessments which are not yet due and payable or the validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and described in Part I of Schedule 1.1A, (ii) all exceptions, restrictions, easements, charges, rights-of-way and monetary and nonmonetary Encumbrances which are set forth in any Purchased Permit listed on a schedule to this Agreement or listed in Part II of Schedule 1.1A, (iii) mechanics', materialmens', laborers', carriers', workers', repairers' and other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business for sums not yet due and payable, so long as the amount of any such sum in respect of which any such lien shall have arisen does not exceed $50,000, individually, and all such sums do not exceed $250,000 in the aggregate, and (iv) Encumbrances with respect to any of the Purchased Assets and created by or resulti ng from the acts or omissions of Purchaser.

    "Person" means any individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation, limited liability company, trust, association or unincorporated organization, any Governmental Authority or any other entity.

    "Predecessor-in-Interest" means any predecessor-in-interest with respect to the Project, including Attala Generating Company, LLC (formerly known as Duke Energy Attala, LLC), VCC Attala OL LLC and TCC Attala OL LLC, and each of their respective Affiliates and Independent Contractors.

    "Preliminary Title Commitment" means the Preliminary Title Commitment of the Title Insurer, Commitment Number 04-3706-11653MS, dated effective as of February 25, 2005, issued in the name of Seller, and attached hereto as Schedule 1.1D.

    "Prepaid Items" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(j).

    "Project" means the natural gas fueled electrical generation plant consisting of two General Electric 7241FA combustion turbine generator sets, two ALSTOM triple-pressure level heat recovery steam generators fitted with selective catalytic reduction, and a condensing General Electric steam turbine generator located in Attala County, Mississippi, together with all related assets and properties, real, personal and mixed, and interests therein (to the extent of Seller's interest), including ancillary equipment, Interconnection Facilities and Protective Apparatus and any additions thereto or replacements thereof.

    "Project Contract" means any Contract to which Seller is a party, by which Seller or any of the Purchased Assets is bound or which has the primary purpose of supporting the Project or the Business, including the Interim LTSA.

    "Project Employee Plan" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(d).

    "Project Employees" means any employees, including individuals deemed to be employees by Law, who are employed in positions at or, if employed at another location, who perform substantially all their work in support of, the Project (whether employed by Seller, if any, or any Independent Contractor or any Predecessor-in-Interest). References to "former Employees" or "future Employees" mean former or future employees, including individuals deemed to be employees by Law, who, during the period of their employment (whether employed by Seller, if any, or any Independent Contractor or any Predecessor-in-Interest) related to the Project, were or are employed in positions at or, if employed at another location, who performed or perform substantially all their work in support of, the Project.

    "Project Insurance Policies" means all insurance policies carried by or for the benefit of Seller or with respect to the ownership, operation or maintenance of the Project or the Business, including all liability, property damage, self insurance arrangements, retrospective assessments and business interruption policies in respect thereof.

    "Project Site" means (a) the Owned Real Property and the Leased Real Property, and (b) the "Transmission Real Property" under and as such term is defined in the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement.

    "Property Tax" means any Tax resulting from and relating to the assessment of real or personal property by any Governmental Authority.

    "Protective Apparatus" means such equipment and apparatus, including but not limited to protective relays, circuit breakers and the like, necessary or appropriate to isolate the Project from the electrical system to which they are connected consistent with Good Utility Practices.

    "Purchase Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3.

    "Purchased Assets" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.

    "Purchased Inventory" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(d).

    "Purchased Permits" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(f).

    "Purchased Project Contracts" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(e).

    "Purchaser" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

    "Purchaser Claims" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

    "Purchaser Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6.

    "Purchaser Group" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(a).

    "Purchaser's Additional Regulatory Approvals" means from each of the Governmental Authorities having jurisdiction over Purchaser's or any of the Participating Entergy Operating Companies' retail operations, and specified in Part II of Schedule 1.1C, either: (i) approval of the Purchaser Transactions and the Participating Entergy Operating Company Transactions, including approval of the consummation thereof and of the full recovery of all costs associated with the Purchaser Transactions and the Participating Entergy Operating Company Transactions (through base rates, fuel adjustment charges, and/or such other rates or charges as may be applied pursuant to a rider or otherwise, provided that the provisions for full recovery of all costs are acceptable to Purchaser and/or the Participating Entergy Operating Companies, in their sole discretion) pursuant to a finding that the consummation of the Purchaser Transactions by Purchaser, and the consummation of the Participating E ntergy Operating Transactions by Purchaser and the Participating Entergy Operating Companies, is prudent and in the public interest, or (ii) such other regulatory treatment as is deemed acceptable to Purchaser and the Participating Entergy Operating Companies in the exercise of their sole and absolute discretion.

    "Purchaser's Required Consents" means the notices to or the consents, waivers or releases of any Person other than a Governmental Authority required by Purchaser to be made or obtained by or on behalf of Purchaser or any Participating Entergy Operating Company prior to consummation of the Purchaser Transactions, including the notices, consents, waivers or releases specified in Schedule 1.1B.

    "Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals" means the notices to, filings with or approvals, statements, waivers, consents or authorizations of or from any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction over any of the Parties, any Participating Entergy Operating Company, any other Affiliates of Purchaser or the Project that are required (a) for Purchaser to consummate the Purchaser Transactions, including those specified in Part I of Schedule 1.1C or (b) to be made or obtained by or on behalf of Purchaser or any of the Participating Entergy Operating Companies with respect to the Transactions, the Transmission Arrangement Agreements or the transactions contemplated thereby, including those specified in Part I of Schedule 1.1C.

    "Purchaser Transactions" means the Transactions regarding the Purchased Assets to which the Purchaser is a Party.

    "Real Estate Curative Documents" has the meaning specified in Section 8.17(h).

    "Real Property" means the Owned Real Property and the Leased Real Property.

    "Release" shall have the meaning set forth in the Laws referred to in the definition of Environmental Laws herein, but also shall include without limitation any threatened Release, spill, leak, discharge, abandonment, disposal, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, injecting, leaching, dumping, depositing, dispersing, allowing to escape or migrate into or through the Environment or the Project Site of any Hazardous Substance. The term "Released" shall have a corresponding meaning.

    "Remediation" means any action of any kind to address an Environmental Condition, or the Release or the presence of Hazardous Substances in the Environment at the Project Site or any Purchased Assets, including the following: (i) monitoring, investigation, assessment, treatment, cleanup, containment, remediation, removal, mitigation, response or restoration work; (ii) obtaining any Permits necessary to conduct any such work; (iii) preparing and implementing any plans or studies for such work; (iv) obtaining a written notice from a Governmental Authority with jurisdiction under applicable Environmental Laws that no material additional work is required by such Governmental Authority; (v) any response to, or preparation for, any inquiry, order, hearing or other proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority with respect to any such Environmental Condition, Release or presence of Hazardous Substances; and (vi) any other activities that are appropriate or req uired under Environmental Laws to address an Environmental Condition, or the presence of or Release of Hazardous Substances in the Environment at the Project Site or any other Purchased Assets.

    "Replacement License Agreement" has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(a)(ii).

    "R.W. Beck" means R.W. Beck Plant Management, Ltd.

    "Scheduled Adjustment Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6.

    "Seller" has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

    "Seller Claims" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

    "Seller Group" means Seller, the Seller Trust, each of HSBC Bank USA, National Association, as Trustee, Monumental Life Insurance Company, Transamerica Life Insurance and Annuity Company, Transamerica Life Insurance Company, AIG Life Insurance Company, American General Life & Accident Insurance Company, American General Life Insurance Company, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York (Formerly American General Life Insurance Company of New York), The Maritime Life Assurance Company, John Hancock Life Insurance Company, John Hancock Variable Life Insurance Company, New York Life Insurance Company, SOF Investments, L.P. and Chateau I, LP and each of their respective officers, directors, attorneys, agents and successors and assigns.

    "Seller Litigation" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7.

    "Seller's Required Consents" means the notices to or the consents, waivers or releases of any Person other than a Governmental Authority that are required by Seller to be made or obtained by or on behalf of Seller prior to the consummation of the Transactions, including the consents, waivers or releases specified in Schedule 4.25.

    "Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals" means the notices to, filings with or approvals, waivers, consents or authorizations of or from any Governmental Authority that are required (i) for Seller to consummate the Transactions, including, those specified in Schedule 4.25 and (ii) by Seller to be made or obtained by or on behalf of Seller prior to the Closing, including those specified in Schedule 4.25.

    "Seller Trust" means the Attala 2004 Trust, a New York trust, and owner of 100% of the membership interests in Seller.

    "SERC Region" means the North American Electric Reliability Council region served by the members of the Southeastern Electric Reliability Council.

    "SO2 Emission Allowance" means (i) an authorization by the USEPA under the Federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401, et seq., to emit up to one ton of sulfur dioxide during or after a specified calendar year, or (ii) an authorization by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality authorizing the emission of up to one (1) ton of sulfur dioxide during or after a specified calendar year under an existing or future SO2 Emissions Allowance program.

    "Tangible Personal Property" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).

    "Tax" or "Taxes" means any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property (including assessments, fees or other charges based on the use or ownership of real property), personal property, transactional, use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto, whether disputed or not, including, without limitation, any item for which liability arises as a transferee or secondary liability in respect any tax (whether imposed by law, contractual agreement or otherwise) and any liability in respect of any tax as a result of being a member of any affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or similar group.

    "Tax Return" means any return, report, information return, declaration, claim for refund or other document, together with all amendments and supplements thereto (including all related or supporting information), required to be supplied to any Governmental Authority responsible for the administration of Laws governing Taxes including information returns or reports with respect to backup withholding and other payments to third parties.

    "Termination Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.

    "Termination of Pre-Closing Interconnection Letter" means the Termination of Pre-Closing Interconnection Letter, substantially in the form of Exhibit E, to be executed and delivered by Seller prior to the Closing.

    "Third Party Claim" means a claim by a Person that is not a member of the Seller Group or the Purchaser Group, including any claim for the costs of conducting Remediation, or seeking an order or demanding that a Person undertake Remediation.

    "Title Insurer" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.7.

    "Title Policy" has the meaning set forth in Section 8.7.

    "Tolling Agreement" means that certain Tolling Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2004, by and between Seller and ESI as Agent.

    "Transactions" has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

    "Transfer Tax" means any sales Tax, transfer Tax, transaction Tax, conveyance fee, use Tax, stamp Tax, stock transfer Tax or other similar Tax, including any related penalties, interest and additions thereto.

    "Transmission Arrangement Agreements" means the Interconnection Agreement, the Interconnection and Service Charge Agreement, the Interconnection Facilities Maintenance Agreement and any other documents and agreements between Purchaser and Transmission Purchaser contemplated therein that are to become effective upon Closing.

    "Transmission Assets" means the "Transmission Assets" under, and as such term is defined in, the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement.

    "Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement" means the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated as of March 16, 2005, between Seller and Transmission Assets Purchaser.

    "Transmission Assets Purchaser" means Attala Transmission LLC, a Louisiana limited liability company.

    "Transmission Purchase Agreements" means the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement and the Termination of Pre-Closing Interconnection Letter.

    "USEPA Allowance Tracking System" means the electronic recordkeeping and notification system called "Allowance Tracking System," "ATS," "NOx Allowance Tracking System" or "NATS" which is maintained by the USEPA in order to record, track and monitor transactions in SO2 Emission Allowances and NOx Emission Allowances, the status of SO2 Emission Allowance and NOx Emission Allowance accounts and related matters.

    "USEPA" means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

    "Warranties" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(h).

    Section 1.2    Certain Interpretive Matters. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

    1. the singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;
    2. reference to any Person includes such Person's successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity;
    3. reference to any gender includes each other gender;
    4. reference to any agreement (including this Agreement), document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof and, if applicable, the terms hereof;
    5. reference to any Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit means such Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit of or to this Agreement, and references in any Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit or definition to any clause means such clause of such Article, Section, Schedule, Exhibit or definitio n unless otherwise specified;
    6. any accounting term used and not otherwise defined in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement has the meaning assigned to such term in accordance with GAAP;
    7. "hereunder," "hereof," "hereto" and words of similar import are references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other provision hereof or thereof;
    8. "including" (and with correlative meaning "include") means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding such term;
    9. relative to the determination of any period of time, "from" means "from and including," "to" means "to but excluding" and "through" means "through and including;"
    10. reference to any Law (including statutes and ordinances) means such Law as amended, modified codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;
    11. any agreement, instrument, insurance policy, statute, regulation, rule or order defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, insurance policy, statute, regulation, rule or order as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes, regulations, rules or orders) by succession of comparable successor statutes, regulations, rules or orders and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; and
    12. all calculations and computations pursuant to this Agreement shall be carried and rounded to the nearest two (2 ) decimal places.

     

    ARTICLE 2

    PURCHASE AND SALE

    Section 2.1    1Purchased Assets. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller shall sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to Purchaser, and Purchaser will purchase and acquire from Seller, (i) all of the assets, properties and rights of every kind, nature, character and description, whether real, personal or mixed, whether tangible or intangible, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise relating to, used or held for use in the Business or for or at the Project, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in existence on the date hereof and any additions thereto on or before the Closing Date, whether or not carried on the books and records of Seller, in each case to the extent now or hereafter located at the Project or owned by Seller on or before the Closing Date, and (ii) without limiting the foregoing, the assets relating to, used or held f or use in the Business or for or at the Project described below, but excluding with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) above all Excluded Assets (collectively, the "Purchased Assets"):

    1. All real property owned by Seller, including fee interests, Easements, water rights, mineral rights and other owned interests in real property, and, without limiting the foregoing, the parcels of real property, Easements, water rights and other real property rights described in Schedule 2.1(a), and in each case all appurtenances thereto and all buildings, fixtures, component parts, other constructions and other improvements thereon and thereto, including to the extent applicable any construction work in progress (collectively, the "Owned Real Property");
    2. All real property leased by Seller and all related lease or sublease agreements, and, without limiting the foregoing, the real property leasehold estates and related lease or sublease agreements described in Schedule 2.1(b), and in each case all appurtenances thereto and all buildings, fixtures and other improvements thereon and thereto, including to the extent applicable any construction work in progress (collectively, the "Leased Real Property");
    3. All machinery, equipment, vehicles, tools, furniture, furnishings and other tangible movable property owned by Seller or located at the Project, excluding Inventory, and, without limiting the foregoing, the property listed or described in Schedule 2.1(c) (collectively, the "Tangible Personal Property");
    4. All Inventory owned by Seller or located at the Project and, without limiting the foregoing, the property listed or described in Schedule 2.1(d) (collectively, the "Purchased Inventory");
    5. All Project Contracts listed or described in Schedule 2.1(e) (collectively, the "Purchased Project Contracts");
    6. All Permits and, without limiting the foregoing, the Permits listed or described in Schedule 2.1(f) and Schedule 4.16 (collectively, the "Purchased Permits");
    7. All books, records, documents, drawings, reports, operating data, operating safety and maintenance manuals, inspection reports, engineering design plans, blueprints, specifications and procedures and similar items related to the Project or the Business in Seller's care custody and control and, without limiting the foregoing, the items listed or described in Schedule 2.1(g) (provided that Seller may make and keep additional copies of any of the foregoing, subject to the Confidentiality Agreement);
    8. All warranties and guarantees from manufacturers, contractors, suppliers and other third parties of any Owned Real Property, Leased Real Property, Tangible Personal Property or Purchased Inventory to the extent that the same are owned by Seller and not expired pursuant to their terms and, without limiting the foregoing, the warranties and guarantees listed or described in Schedule 2.1(h) (collectively, the "Warranties"), and in each case all claims or causes of action against any third parties thereunder other than those for reimbursement for repairs or replacements completed and paid for prior to Closing;
    9. All claims or causes of action against any third parties listed or described in Schedule 2.1(i);
    10. All advance payments, prepayments, prepaid expenses, deposits or the like to the extent related to the Project or the Business and owned by Seller and, without limiting the foregoing, such items listed or described in Schedule 2.1(j) (collectively the "Prepaid Items");
    11. All SO2 Emission Allowances remaining in the Project USEPA Allowance Trading System individual boiler accounts; and
    12. Except for Excluded Assets, all other assets, properties and rights of every kind, nature, character and description, whether real, personal or mixed, whether tangible or intangible, whether accrued, contingent or otherwise relating to, used or held for use in the Business or for or at the Project, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, in existence on the date hereof and any additions thereto on or before the Closing Date, whether or not carried on the books and records of Seller, in each case to the extent now or hereafter located at the Project or owned by Seller.

    Section 2.2    Excluded Assets. In accordance with the last clause of the first paragraph of Section 2.1, nothing in this Agreement will constitute or be construed as conferring on Purchaser, and Purchaser shall not be entitled or required to purchase or acquire, any right, title or interest in, to or under the following assets, interests, properties, rights, licenses or contracts (the "Excluded Assets"):

    1. Any mobile equipment and tools owned by Independent Contractors and other third parties (other than any Person in the Seller Group) and located at the Project and related inventory items for the operation and maintenance of such mobile equipment and tools owned by Independent Contractors and other third parties (other than any Person in the Seller Group) and located at the Project, and any Tangible Personal Property, Purchased Inventory or Prepaid Items to the extent consumed or disposed of prior to the Closing, in each case in the ordinary course of the conduct of the Business consistent with past practice and the provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of Section 6.4;
    2. Any of the assets, properties, rights or interests, owned, used, occupied or held by or for the benefit of Seller that are listed or described in Schedule 2.2(b) or that Purchaser, in a writing or writings delivered to Seller at least 10 days prior to the Closing Date, identifies as not desired by Purchaser to be included within, or to constitute a part of, the Purchased Assets;
    3. All of the rights and interests, and all of the liabilities and obligations, of Seller in, to, under or pursuant to any Project Contract other than the Purchased Project Contracts or that Purchaser, in a writing or writings delivered to Seller at least 10 days prior to the Closing Date, identifies as not desired by Purchaser to be included within, or to constitute a part of, the Purchased Assets;
    4. To the extent applicable to any current, former or future Project Employees or their employers, or to the Project or the Business, any of the following, and any funds and property held in trust or any other funding vehicle pursuant to, (i) any "employee benefit plan" (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) (ii) any other severance pay, stay pay, salary continuation, bonus, incentive, stock option or other equity - -based, retirement or early retirement, pension, profit sharing, deferred compensation, welfare, vacation/holiday plans, contracts, programs, funds or similar arrangements, and (iii) all other employee fringe or other benefit plans, contracts, programs, funds or similar arrangements, whether written or oral, qualified or nonqualified, funded or unfunded, foreign or domestic adopted, maintained, sponsored, contributed to or made available for the benefit of such Project Employees and/or with respect to which Seller, any Independent Contractor or any Predecessor-in-Interest has any ongoing obligation or actual or potential ongoing liability whatsoever (all of the above being hereinafter referred to individually as a "Project Employee Plan" and collectively as the "Project Employee Plans"), and in particular, but without limitation, neither Purchaser nor any of its Affiliates shall be deemed to have assumed any Project Employee Plan by reason of any provision of this Agreement;
    5. Except to the extent described as Purchased Assets in Schedule 2.1(g), books and records of Seller, including Seller's minute books, limited liability company interest books, limited liability company interest ledger and company seal;
    6. Cash, cash equivalents, bank deposits, and accounts and notes receivable, trade or otherwise, including any amounts due under the Tolling Agreement and any posted collateral;
    7. The advance payments, accruals, prepayments, prepaid expenses, deposits or the like listed in Schedule 2.2(g);
    8. Rights of Seller arising under this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements or any other instrument or document executed and delivered pursuant to the terms of this Agreement;
    9. The right to receive mail and other communications relating to any of the Excluded Assets or Excluded Liabilities, all of which mail and other communications shall be promptly forwarded by Purchaser to Seller to the extent received by Purchaser;
    10. All refunds or credits, if any, of taxes due to or from Seller (but nothing herein shall limit the effect of the prorations and allocations of Tax liabilities elsewhere in this Agreement);
    11. That certain Tolling Agreement (the "NEG Tolling Contract") dated as of May 7, 2002 between Attala Generating Company, LLC ("AGC") and Attala Energy Company, LLC ("AEC"), that certain Guarantee dated as of May 7, 2002 by PG&E National Energy Group, Inc. (currently known as National Energy Gas & Transmission, Inc. "NEG"), in favor of AGC, guaranteeing the payment obligations of AEC under the NEG Tolling Contract, that certain Facility Lease Agreement dated as of May 7, 2002 between VCC ATTALA OL LLC, as Owner Lessor, and Attala Generating Company, LLC, as Facility Lessee and that certain Facility Lease Agreement dated as of May 7, 2002 between TCC ATTALA OL LLC, as Owner Lessor, and Attala Generating Company, LLC, as Facility Lessee (the "NEG Contracts ");
    12. All claims or causes of action against any third parties including claims under warranties and guarantees, indemnification claims, contribution claims or claims for refunds, prepayments, offsets, recoupment, judgments and the like to the extent related to the Project or the Business and owned by Seller other than the claims or causes of action listed or described in Sections 2.1(h) and 2.1(i);
    13. Any contract, agreement, arrangement or commitment of any nature in respect of any intercompany transaction between Seller, on the one hand, and any of the Seller Group, on the other hand, whether or not such transaction relates to any contribution to capital, loan, the provision of goods or services, tax sharing arrangements, payment arrangements, intercompany advances, charges or balances, or the like (collectively, the "Intercompany Arrangements"); and
    14. The Transmission Assets.

    No designation by Purchaser of any asset as an Excluded Asset pursuant to subsections (b) or (c) of this Section 2.2 shall serve to reduce the Purchase Price. At any time or from time to time, up to thirty (30) days following the Closing, any and all of the tangible Excluded Assets may be removed from the Project by Seller (at no expense to Purchaser, but without charge by Purchaser for temporary storage), provided that Seller shall do so in a manner that does not unduly or unnecessarily disrupt normal business activities at the Project.

    Section 2.3    Assumption of Liabilities. Upon the Closing, Purchaser will assume, and will thereafter pay, perform and discharge as and when due, and Purchaser shall indemnify Seller Group in accordance with Section 7.2(a)(vi) with respect to, the following, and only the following, obligations and liabilities of Seller to the extent, and only to the extent, such obligations and liabilities are allocable to the period after the Closing Date or are prorated to Purchaser under Section 3.4 (collectively, the "Assumed Liabilities"): all liabilities and obligations under the Purchased Project Contracts assigned to Purchaser under this Agreement (other than obligations or liabilities prorated to Seller under Section 3.4), except in each case to the extent such liabilities and obligations are allocable to the period before the Closing Date, including liabilities and obligations thereof, that but for a brea ch or default by Seller or a waiver or extension given to or by Seller, would have been paid, performed or otherwise discharged on or prior to the Closing Date or to the extent the same arise out of any such breach or default by, or waiver or extension given to or by Seller.

    Section 2.4    Excluded Liabilities. Except for Assumed Liabilities as provided in Section 2.3, Purchaser shall not assume or be obligated to pay, perform or otherwise discharge or be responsible or liable with respect to, and Seller shall indemnify Purchaser Group in accordance with Section 7.1(a)(iv) with respect to, any liabilities or obligations of Seller or otherwise relating to the Business or the Project or any present or former owner or operator thereof, whether or not of, associated with, or arising from, any of the Purchased Assets, and whether fixed, contingent or otherwise, known or unknown (collectively, the "Excluded Liabilities"), including the following:

    1. Any liabilities or obligations relating to, based in whole or in part on events or conditions occurring or existing in connection with, or arising out of, the Business as operated on or prior to the Closing Date, or the design, construction, ownership, possession, use, or operation of any of the Project, including the Purchased Assets, on or before the Closing Date, or sale or other disposition on or prior to the Closing Date of any capacity of or energy from the Project or any of the Purchased Assets (or any other assets, properties, rights or interests associated, at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, with the Business);
    2. Any liabilities or obligations of Seller to the extent relating to any Excluded Assets or other assets which are not Purchased Assets and the ownership, operation and conduct of any business in connection therewith or therefrom, including any amounts due from Seller under or arising from any Project Contracts other than the Purchased Project Contracts or from any Inte rcompany Arrangements;
    3. Any liabilities or obligations of Seller in respect of costs determined to be the responsibility of Seller under Section 3.4, any Taxes for which Seller is liable under Section 6.6 and Taxes attributable to the ownership, operation or use of any of the Project, including the Purchased Assets on or before the Closing Date (except for Taxes for which Purchaser is liable pursuant to Section 3.4 or Section 6.6 hereof);
    4. Any liabilities or obligations arising on or prior to the Closing Date from the breach by Seller of, default by Seller under or waiver or extension given by or to Seller with respect to the performance of any term, covenant or provision of any of the Purchased Project Contracts, that would have been, but for such breach, default, waiver or extension, paid, performed or otherwise discharged on or prior to the Closing Date or to the extent the same arise out of any such breach, default, waiver or extension;
    5. Any liabilities or obligations, including fines, penalties or costs imposed by a Governmental Authority and the costs of any associated defense or response with respect to any of the Project, including the Purchased Assets resulting from an investigation, proceeding, request for information or inspection before or by a Governmental Authority whether pending or commencing on, prior to or after the Closing Date, to the extent based on events or conditions occurring or existing in connection with, or arising out of, or otherwise relating to, the Business or the ownership, possession, use, operation, sale or other disposition on or prior to the Closing Date of any of the Project, including the Purchased Assets (or any other assets, properties, rights or interests associated, at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, with the Business), or actions taken or omissions to act made on or prior to the Closing Date.
    6. Any liabilities or obligations of any of Seller Group or their resp ective directors, officers, members, shareholders or agents, arising out of, or relating to, this Agreement, any of the Ancillary Agreements or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, whether incurred prior to, on or after the Closing Date, including, without limitation, any and all finder's or broker's fees and expenses, and any and all fees and expenses of any attorneys, accountants or other professionals;
    7. Any liabilities or obligations relating to any current, former or future Project Employee or other Person (whether employed by Seller, if any, or any Independent Contractor or any Predecessor-in-Interest) or to any spouse, children, other dependents or beneficiaries of any such Person or any successor-in-interest to any such Person, with respect to incidents, events, exposures or circumstances occurring at any time before or after Closing, in each case whenever any claims arising therefrom or relating thereto mature or are asserted, including all such liabilitie s and obligations arising (i) under or related to any Project Employee Plan, (ii) under or arising from any claim by any such Project Employees for compensation, severance benefits, any other benefit claims under any Project Employee Plans or applicable Laws, vacation pay, continuation coverage, expenses or any similar type claims arising from employment prior to the Closing or as a result of the consummation of the Transactions, (iii) under any employment, wage and hour restriction, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, discrimination, retaliation, tort, plant closing or immigration and naturalization Laws or any Law relating to employee benefits, employment discrimination, leave, accommodation, severance, labor relations, hiring or retention, safety, any employment contracts or agreements, wages and hours of employees or any other terms or conditions of employment or any other employment-related matter or workplace issue, including COBRA, (iv) under any collective bargaining agreement, collecti ve bargaining or labor relations Law, or agreement or arrangement with a labor organization or employee representative, (v) under any agreement concerning or relating to such Project Employees or other Persons performing work or services for the direct or indirect benefit of the Project, or (vi) in connection with any workers' compensation or any other employee health, accident, disability or safety claims; but excluding, however, all such liabilities and obligations arising from the actions of Purchaser Group with respect to Project Employees contacted by Purchaser Group for hiring before Closing or arising after Closing with respect to Project Employees hired by Purchaser;
    8. Any liabilities or obligations relating to the Business or the Project, including the Purchased Assets (or any other assets, properties, rights or interests associated, at any time on or prior to the Closing Date, with the Business or any of the Purchased Assets), to the extent based on events or conditions occurring or existing on or prior to the Closing Date and arising out of or relating to (i) any dispute arising out of or in connection with capacity of or energy provided or services rendered from the Project, including claims for refunds, personal injury or property damage, (ii) claims relating to employee health and safety, including claims for injury, sickness, disease or death of any Person, (iii) any lien described in clause (iii) of the definition of Permitted Encumbrances or any unpaid sums for which any such liens shall have arisen, (iv) claims by an Independent Contractor or other Person utilized or retained for services or work related to or in support of the Project, or (v) compliance w ith any Laws relating to any of the foregoing;
    9. Any liabilities or obligations to the extent based on, relating to or arising from events or conditions occurring or existing in connection with, or arising out of, any and all assets, properties, rights and interests which are not being acquired by Purchaser hereunder, including relating to or arising from the Excluded Assets;
    10. Any liabilities or obligations incurred by any of Seller Group or any of their respective directors, officers, shareholders, members, agents or Independent Contractors after the Closing Date (but this paragraph shall not limit the liabilities or obligations for which Purchaser provides indemnification under Section 7.2);
    11. Any liabilities or obligations under any of the Purchased Project Contracts which would be included in the Purchased Assets but for the provisions of Section 2.5, except to the extent Purchaser is provided with the benefits thereunder as contem plated by such Section; and
    12. Any liability representing indebtedness for money borrowed (and any refinancing thereof).

    Section 2.5    Assignability and Consents.

    1. (i) Seller shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all necessary actions to obtain, at the earliest practicable date and in any event prior to the Closing Date, all consents, approvals, authorizations or waivers of or from any third party necessary to authorize, approve or permit the full and complete sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer and delivery of the Purchased Assets, and to consummate and make effective the Transactions.
    2. (ii) Within thirty (30) days after the execution of the Agreement, Seller will provide notice to the counterparty to each of the Material Software Licenses of the pending assignment of such Material Software Licenses to Purchaser (or to any permitted assignee under the Agreement) upon the occurrence of the Closing. Seller shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to either (y) obtain any necessary consents to the assignment of such Material Software License and the rights to use such Material Software License to Purchaser (or to any permitted assignee under the Agreement; provided however that, a consent that doesn't include such permitted assignees shall be deemed acceptable to Purchaser) prior to the Closing Date or (z) enter into a new license agreement ( each a "Replacement License Agreement") in replacement of such Material Software License, with rights, terms and conditions that are substantially similar to such Material Software License and with terms that permit the transfer thereof to Purchaser (or to any permitted assignee under the Agreement; provided however that, a Replacement License Agreement that doesn't include such permitted assignees shall be deemed acceptable to Purchaser) without having to obtain the counterparty's consent, and transfer such Replacement License Agreement and the rights to use the license granted thereunder to Purchaser prior to the Closing Date. Each such Replacement License Agreement shall constitute a Purchased Project Contract hereunder.

    3. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, but subject to paragraph (d), this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement to assign any Purchased Asset, and Seller shall not be obligated or entitled to assign such Purchased Asset, if the attempted assignment or assumption of the same, without Seller first having obtained the consent, approval, authorization or waiver of a third party, would constitute a breach or default under any Purchased Project Contract, would violate any Law or would in any way adversely affect the rights, or increase the obligations, of any Party to this Agreement with respect to such Purchased Asset (each a "Nonassignable Asset"); provided, however, that Seller shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to obtain all such consents, approvals, authorizations and waivers at the earliest practicable date and in any event prior to the Closing Date and, if Seller shall not have obtained any such co nsent, approval, authorization or waiver prior to the Closing, Seller shall continue to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to obtain as promptly as practicable after the Closing any such consent, approval, authorization or waiver not obtained prior to the Closing. Purchaser shall cooperate as reasonably requested by Seller in connection with Seller's efforts to obtain any such consent, approval, authorization or waiver.
    4. Without limiting Seller's obligations under Section 2.5(b), if any such consent, approval, authorization or waiver shall not have been obtained prior to the Closing, to the extent and for so long as the related Nonassignable Asset shall not have been assigned and transferred to Purchaser, Seller shall, following the Closing, hold such Nonassignable Asset in trust for the use and benefit of Purchaser, and shall take such other actions (including entering into written agreements) as Purchaser may reasonably request in order to place Purchaser in the same position as if such consents, approvals, authorizations or waivers had been obtained, or to provide to Purchaser the benefit of, any Nonassignable Asset not assigned and transferred to Purchaser.
    5. Nothing herein shall be construed to require Purchaser to consummate the Transactions if any condition in Article 8 has not been obtained.

    ARTICLE 3

    CLOSING; PURCHASE PRICE

    Section 3.1    Closing. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof the consummation of the Transactions (the "Closing") will take place at the offices of Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P., at 10:00 a.m. local time, on a mutually acceptable date within ten (10) Business Days following the date on which the conditions set forth in Articles 8 and 9, other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, have been either satisfied or waived by the Party for whose benefit such conditions exist, or at such other time and place as the Parties may mutually agree. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to herein as the "Closing Date." The Closing shall be effective for all purposes immediately after 11:59 p.m. on the Closing Date. At the Closing, and subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the following will occur:< /A>

    1. Deliveries by Seller. At the Closing, Seller shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to Purchaser the following:
      1. instruments of transfer and conveyance, properly executed and acknowledged by Seller in such customary form as is reasonably acceptable to both Seller and Purchaser, that are necessary to transfer to and vest in Purchaser all of Seller's right, title and interest in and to the Purchased Assets or which may otherwise be required by the Title Insurer, including:
        1. the Bill of Sale;
        2. the Assignment and Assumption Agreements; and
        3. the Deed;
      2. any documents reasonably requested from Seller by the Title Insurer and allocable to Seller's obligations hereunder (including a gap indemnity agreement and other documents required by the Title Insurer pursuant to Schedule B-I of the Preliminary Title Commitment), in form and substance satisfactory to the Title Insurer, properly executed by Seller;
      3. a certificate and affidavit of non-foreign status of Seller pursuant to Section 1445 of the Code, properly executed by Seller;
      4. those documents required to be delivered to Purchaser by Seller pursuant to Article 8 or in accordance with the provisions of any Ancillary Agreement;
      5. all consents, waivers or approvals obtained by Seller with respect to the sale and purchase of the Purchased Assets, including those with respect to the transfer of any Purchased Project Contract or Permit or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;
      6. evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser, demonstrating that Seller has obtained Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals and Seller's Required Consents to the extent required by Section 8.4(c); and
      7. any other documents or instruments reasonably required by Purchaser to consummate the Transactions and reasonably requested of Seller prior to the Closing Date.
    2. Deliveries by Purchaser. At Closing, Purchaser shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to Seller the following:
      1. the Initial Purchase Price as adjusted by the Final Closing Adjustment, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or accounts designated by Seller in writing prior to the Closing Date;
      2. the Assignment and Assumption Agreements;
      3. those documents required to be delivered to Seller by Purchaser pursuant to Article 9 or in accordance with the provisions of any Ancillary Agreement;
      4. evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Seller, demonstrating that Purchaser has obtained Purchaser's Required and Additional Regulatory Approvals and Purchaser's Required Consents to the extent required by Section 9.4(b);
      5. any documents reasonably requested from Purchaser by the Title Insurer and allocable to Purchaser's obligations hereunder, in form and substance satisfactory to the Title Insurer, properly executed by Purchaser; and
      6. any other documents or instruments reasonably required by Seller to consummate the Transactions and reasonably requested of Purchaser prior to the Closing Date.
    3. Ancillary Agreements. Subject to the occurrence of and contemporaneously with the Closing, each Party will execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, such of the Ancillary Agreements which such Party is required to execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, as applicable, at or upon the Closing and which such Party has not previously executed and delivered, or caused to be executed and delivered, as applicable.

    Section 3.2    Initial Purchase Price. The initial purchase price for the Purchased Assets being sold shall be (a) $85,312,248, if the Closing occurs prior to October 15, 2005, (b) $88,094,169, if the Closing occurs on or after October 15, 2005, but prior to October 15, 2006, and (c) $92,730,704, if the Closing occurs on or after October 15, 2006 (such price on the Closing Date being, the "Initial Purchase Price").

    Section 3.3    Adjustments to Initial Purchase Price. The Initial Purchase Price shall be subject to such adjustments as are specified in this Section 3.3 and as may occur under the provisions of Section 3.5 (this Section and Section 3.5 being referred to as the "Adjustment Sections," and the Initial Purchase Price as so adjusted is herein referred to as the "Purchase Price").

    1. Adjustments from Prorations. The Initial Purchase Price shall be adjusted to account for the items prorated as of the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3.4.
    2. Inventory. The Parties agree that the Initial Purchase Price assumes a quantity of Purchased Inventory, in the aggregate, with a cost value of $3,658,846 (the "Inventory Threshold"). Accordingly, the Parties agree that the Initial Purchase Price shall be further adjusted by the difference between the Inventory Threshold and the cost value of the Purchased Inventory as of the Closing (the "Inventory Value"). The Inventory Value shall be determined in the same manner as the initial valuation of the Purchased Inventory for determining the Inventory Threshold (the "Inventory Accounting Policies") which in each case shall exclude from inventory any parts procured and obtained with the intent to be consumed in a scheduled major maintenance event (including, witho ut limitation, combustion inspections and hot gas path inspections). The Initial Purchase Price shall be (i) increased by the amount by which the Inventory Value exceeds the Inventory Threshold, or (ii) decreased by the amount by which the Inventory Value is less than the Inventory Threshold. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be no adjustment to the Initial Purchase Price pursuant to this Section 3.3(b) unless the difference between the Inventory Threshold and the Inventory Value exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars (U.S. $100,000).

    Section 3.4    Prorations.

    1. Purchaser and Seller agree that, except as otherwise specifically provided in this Agreement, all of the ordinary and recurring items normally incurred by Seller (but excluding all Taxes other than Property Taxes) relating to the Business and operation of the Project, in each case as related to the Purchased Assets, shall be prorated and charged as of the Closing Date, without any duplication of payment under the Project Contracts, with Seller liable to the extent such items relate to any time periods (tax year periods for Property Tax) ending on or prior to the Closing Date, and Purchaser liable to the extent such items relate to periods (tax year periods for Property Tax) after the Closing (measured in the same units used to compute the item in question and otherwise measured by calendar days); provided that notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Purchaser shall not pay any amount under this Section 3.4 that constitutes an Excluded Liability.
    2. In connection with the prorations referred to in Section 3.4(a) above, in the event that actual figures are not available at the Closing Date, the proration shall be based upon the applicable amounts accrued through the Closing Date or paid for the most recent year or other appropriate period for which such amounts paid are available. All prorated amounts shall be recalculated and paid to the appropriate Party within thirty (30) days after the date that the previously unavailable actual figures become available. Seller and Purchaser shall furnish each other with such documents and other records as may be reasonably requested in order to confirm all proration calculations made pursuant to this Section 3.4.

    Section 3.5    Procedures for Closing Adjustments. At least twenty (20) calendar days prior to the anticipated Closing Date, Purchaser (with the assistance of Seller, to the extent requested by Purchaser) shall prepare and deliver to Seller an estimated closing statement (the "Estimated Closing Statement") that shall set forth Purchaser's best estimate of all estimated adjustments to the Initial Purchase Price required by this Agreement to be made as of the Closing (the "Estimated Closing Adjustment"). The Estimated Closing Adjustment, insofar as it relates to the adjustment required by Section 3.3(b), will be based on an Inventory survey which shall be conducted by Seller, in consultation with Purchaser, within thirty (30) days prior to the anticipated Closing Date consistent with the Inventory Accounting Policies and the results of which shall be del ivered by Seller to Purchaser promptly upon completion. Seller shall provide at least five (5) Business Days advance written notice to Purchaser of the commencement of such Inventory survey and shall, to the extent Purchaser reasonably requests, permit Purchaser to observe and monitor Seller's conduct of the Inventory survey. Within ten (10) calendar days after the delivery of the Estimated Closing Statement by Purchaser to Seller, Seller may object in good faith to the Estimated Closing Adjustment in writing. If Seller objects to the Estimated Closing Adjustment within such ten (10) calendar day period, the Parties shall attempt to resolve their differences by negotiation and the Closing will not take place until such differences have been resolved in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.6. If Seller does not object to the Estimated Closing Adjustment, the parties will negotiate the final amount of all adjustments to the Initial Purchase Price (the "Final Closing Adjustment") at lea st five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, or, if the Parties cannot resolve any differences with respect to such Final Closing Adjustment, the Closing will not take place until such differences have been resolved in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.6.

    Section 3.6    Procedures for Certain Purchase Price Adjustments. If circumstances exist that result in any disagreement in respect of an adjustment to the Purchase Price pursuant to the provisions of the Adjustment Sections, then and in any such event, such negotiations, and the resolution of disagreements, shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.6. The Parties shall negotiate such adjustment of the Purchase Price in good faith prior to the date such adjustment is otherwise scheduled to become effective (each, a "Scheduled Adjustment Date"). If the Parties are unable to agree upon an adjustment by the fifth (5th) Business Day prior to such date, then for the items in dispute such Scheduled Adjustment Date and any Closing Date (but not any Termination Date) shall be extended to the fifth (5th) Business Day following completion of the procedure described in this Section 3.6 and the determination of the pertinent adjustment, to provide for the opportunity to resolve such disagreement pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.6. Within seven (7) Business Days following the original Scheduled Adjustment Date, each Party shall submit to the Independent Accounting Firm in writing its proposed adjustments of the Purchase Price which were to occur on such Scheduled Adjustment Date. Such proposals shall be materially in accordance with the last proposals made by such Party to the other Party during the course of the aforementioned good faith negotiations between the Parties. The Parties shall additionally submit such memoranda, arguments, briefs and evidence in support of their respective positions, and in accordance with such procedures, as the Independent Accounting Firm may determine. Within five (5) Business Days following the due date of such submissions, as to each adjustment of the Purchase Price that was to occur on the Scheduled Adjustment Date concerning which there exists disagreement, the Independent Accounting Firm shall select, on an individual basis, a proposed adjustment of the Purchase Price proposed by one of the Parties, it being agreed that the Independent Accounting Firm shall have no authority to alter any such proposal in any way. Such determination by the Independent Accounting Firm shall be final and binding between the Parties as to such adjustments of the Purchase Price and shall not be subject to further challenge by the Parties pursuant to Section 11.8 or otherwise. Upon the determination of the appropriate adjustments, the Parties shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, effectuate such adjustments by including them in the payments to occur at the Closing. Subject to the foregoing, the Independent Accounting Firm may determine the issues in dispute following such procedures, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, as it deems appropriate to the circumstances and with reference to the amounts in issue. The Parties do not intend to impose any particular procedures upon the Independent Accounting Firm, it being the desire of the Parties that any such disagreement shall be resolved as expeditiously and inexpensively as reasonably practicable. The Independent Accounting Firm shall have no liability to the Parties in connection with services, except for acts of bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence and the Parties shall provide such indemnities to the Independent Accounting Firm as it may reasonably request consistent with the foregoing. The fees and disbursements of the Independent Accounting Firm shall be paid one-half by Seller and one-half by Purchaser.

    Section 3.7    Allocation of Purchase Price. The Parties shall use reasonable efforts to jointly prepare and agree upon an allocation of the Purchase Price among the Purchased Assets in accordance with Section 1060 of the Code within ninety (90) days after the Purchase Price has been determined ("Final Allocation"). If a Final Allocation is determined, then Purchaser and Seller agree to provide each other with any necessary information to complete Internal Revenue Service Form 8594 and to file timely Internal Revenue Service Form 8594 and all Tax Returns, in accordance with any agreed upon Final Allocation.

    Section 3.8    Credit Support.

    1. At Closing, Seller shall provide to Purchaser an irrevocable letter of credit in the face amount of $9,273,070.40 in substantially the form attached as Exhibit D from a United States financial institution acceptable to Purchaser but in any event rated and continuing to be rated at least "A" by Standard & Poor's Corporation or at least "A2" by Moody's Investors Service (the "Letter of Credit"); provided, however, that if no issuer shall satisfy such ratings requirement, the next highest investment grade rating by such ratings services shall be deemed sufficient. The Letter of Credit shall be effective for a period of 12 months after the Closing Date, and shall be extended by Seller at least 30 days prior to any expiration thereof such that the Letter of Credit shall not expire until all Purchaser Claims asserted by Purchaser hereunder on or before the expiration of the survival period set forth in Section 11.14(a) have been resolved (such claims being referred to hereunder as the "Asserted Purchaser Claims"). The amount drawable under the Letter of Credit shall decrease to $4,636,535.20 on the date that is 6 months after the Closing Date unless a Asserted Purchaser Claim is outstanding on such date, in which case such decrease shall not occur until all Asserted Purchaser Claims outstanding on such date have been resolved and the amount payable thereunder to Purchaser determined. If the undrawn amount of the Letter of Credit exceeds $4,636,535.20 on the date that is 6 months after the Closing Date, then Purchaser shall promptly send to the issuer of the Letter of Credit a Reduction Certificate (as such term is defined in the Letter of Credit) reducing the amount drawable under the Letter of Credit to $4,636,535.20 unless an Asserted Purchaser Claim is outstanding on such date, in which case Purchaser may delay sending such Reduction Certificate until all Asserted Purchaser Claims outstanding on such date 6 months after the Closing Date have been res olved and the amount payable thereunder to Purchaser determined.
    2. The Letter of Credit may be drawn on by Purchaser:

          1. In the amount agreed upon, if Purchaser and Seller agree to the drawing;
          2. In the amount of any unpaid obligations of Seller under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements with respect to any Asserted Purchaser Claim, if Seller is obligated to Purchaser with respect to such Asserted Purchaser Claim as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with Section 11.8 pursuant to an unappealable judgment which remains unsatisfied 30 days after such judgment becomes unappealable;
          3. In the amount of the Letter of Credit or such lesser amount as Purchaser determines is necessary to satisfy any Asserted Purchaser Claims, upon advance written notice to Seller, if the Letter of Credit would expire within 60 days and Seller does not, on or before the later of 30 days prior to the expiration of the Letter of Credit or 5 days after Purchaser's notice, extend the Letter of Credit as required above; and
          4. In the amount of the Letter of Credit or such lesser amount as Purchaser determines is necessary to satisfy any Asserted Purchaser Claims, upon advance written notice to Seller, if the issuer of the Letter of Credit no longer satisfies the requirements set forth above and Seller does not provide a replacement Letter of Credit from an issuer that does satisfy the requirements within 60 days of Purchaser's notice.

    1. In the event of any drawing pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv) above, Purchaser shall deposit the proceeds thereof in an interest-bearing segregated account of Purchaser for the benefit of Purchaser and Seller as set forth herein (but not third parties) with a United States financial institution acceptable to Seller but in any event rated and continuing to be rated as required of the issuer of the Letter of Credit above. Purchaser shall be entitled to apply such proceeds in satisfaction of any unpaid obligations of Seller under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements with respect to any Asserted Purchaser Claims, if and only if Seller is obligated to Purchaser with respect thereto by agreement of the Parties or as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in accordance with Section 11.8 pursuant to an unappealable judgment which remains unsatisfied 30 days after such judgment becomes unappealable. In the event that after any drawing pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv) above, Seller provides Purchaser with a replacement Letter of Credit that satisfies the requirements set forth in this Section 3.8 in an amount equal to the unapplied proceeds of such drawing, then Purchaser shall cause the unapplied proceeds of such drawing to be returned to Seller.
    1. At such time as the survival period described in Section 11.14(a) has expired and all outstanding Asserted Purchaser Claims have been resolved, Purchaser shall return to Seller the Letter of Credit and any remaining proceeds thereof held by Purchaser.
    2. Purchaser shall pay to Seller at Closing an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the reasonable administrative charges and issuance fees paid by Seller to the issuer of the Letter of Credit for issuing and maintaining the Letter of Credit for the initial minimum period.
    3. In lieu of posting the Letter of Credit, Seller shall have the option of posting cash on terms and conditions that are satisfactory to Purchaser.

     

    ARTICLES 4

    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER

    Seller represents and warrants to Purchaser, as of the Effective Date and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

    Section 4.1    Organization and Existence. Seller is a limited liability company, duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Seller is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in Mississippi, the state where the Project is located.

    Section 4.2    Execution, Delivery and Enforceability. Seller has all requisite limited liability company power and authority to execute and deliver, and perform its obligations under, this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is or becomes a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement and of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is or becomes a party, the performance by Seller of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary limited liability company action required on the part of Seller and no other limited liability company proceedings on its part are necessary to authorize the same. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Purchaser and Transmission Purchaser of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreemen ts to which either is or becomes a party, this Agreement constitutes, and the Ancillary Agreements to which Seller is or becomes a party when executed and delivered by it will constitute, its valid and legally binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with its and their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and by general equitable principles.

    Section 4.3    No Violation. Subject to Seller obtaining Seller's Required Consents and Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals, and except for compliance with the requirements of the HSR Act, neither the execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is or becomes a party, nor Seller's performance of compliance with any provision hereof or thereof, nor Seller's consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will:

    1. violate, or conflict with, or result in a breach of, any provisions of the Permits or the organizational documents of Seller;
    2. result in a default (or give rise to any right, including any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, or conflict with, or result in a breach of, any of the material terms, conditions or provisions of any Project Contract or any note, bond, mortgage, loan agreement, deed of trust, indenture, license or agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Seller is a party or by which Seller or any of the Purchased Assets is bound;
    3. violate any Law or Order applicable to Seller or the Purchased Assets; or
    4. require the declaration, filing or registration with or notice to, authorization of, consent or approval from any Person.

    Section 4.4    Compliance with Laws. To Seller's Knowledge, except as set forth in Schedule 4.4, Seller is not and will not be (by virtue of any past or present action, omission to act, Project Contract or any occurrence or state of facts whatsoever) in violation of, and is not under investigation or threatened in writing to be under investigation with respect to, any Law or judgment of any Governmental Authority applicable to Seller or the conduct of the Business. Prior to the Closing Date, any such uncured violation set forth in Schedule 4.4 shall have been cured.

    Section 4.5    Permits. To Seller's Knowledge, Seller holds and is in compliance with all material Permits required by Law (excluding any of the foregoing required under any Environmental Law, in respect of which Seller's sole representations and warranties are set forth in Section 4.16) for the ownership and operation of the Project and the Business, as currently operated by Seller. To Seller's Knowledge, each such Permit is in full force and effect and no event has occurred which permits, or with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both would permit, the revocation, suspension, limitation or termination thereof. To Seller's Knowledge, there is no condition, circumstance or issue that represents any material impediment to the assignment of any Purchased Permit or any condition, circumstance or issue related to Seller that would prevent Purchaser from obtaining the prompt provision of any other Perm it, in each case with an associated cost not in excess of standard renewal or application fees, as applicable. Seller has no planned changes to the Project or the Project Site, including any power uprate, which requires modification of any Permit which has not yet been obtained.

    Section 4.6    Bankruptcy and Insolvency Matters. Seller is not Bankrupt and there are no proceedings pending or being contemplated by it or, to the best of Seller's Knowledge, threatened against it, in each case, which could reasonably be expected to result in it being or, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transaction, becoming Bankrupt. After giving effect to the consummation of the Transaction, the fair value of the assets of Seller exceed its liabilities and the capital of Seller will not be impaired.

    Section 4.7    Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.7, to Seller's Knowledge there is no claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending or threatened in writing against Seller before any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, or any judgment, decree, writ, injunction or order of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority binding on Seller (collectively, "Seller Litigation"); nor to Seller's Knowledge any claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending or threatened in writing against any of Seller Group (other than Seller) or any Independent Contractor before any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, or any judgment, decree, writ, injunction or order of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority binding on any of Seller Group (other than Seller) or any Independent Contractor in any way relating to the Project, the Business or the Purchased Assets that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the foregoing, to Seller's Knowledge, all claims, actions, proceedings or investigations related to the NEG Contracts that could materially affect the Seller are subject to a binding settlement agreement that precludes further claims, actions, proceedings or investigations by NEG or any of its Affiliates against Seller, the Project, the Business or the Purchased Assets.

    Section 4.8    Contracts. Except for (i) this Agreement, (ii) as of the Closing Date, any Ancillary Agreement, (iii) any Project Contract listed in Schedules 4.8, 4.11 and 4.12, and (iv) provisions of terminated Project Contracts that expressly survive their termination but are not the subject of any current application, to the Knowledge of Seller, Seller is not bound by or subject to, and none of the Project, the Business or the Purchased Assets is bound by or subject to, any Contract.

    Section 4.9    Purchased Project Contracts.

    1. Except as set forth in Part I of Schedule 4.9, no default, event of default or other event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default, has occurred or exists under any of the Purchased Project Contracts, except for such defaults, events of default and other events as to which requisite waivers have been obtained.
    2. Except as set forth in Part II of Schedule 4.9, no claim, action, proceeding or investigation, is pending or threatened against Seller challenging the enforceability of any of the Purchased Project Contracts.
    3. Except for the Purchased Project Contracts listed under the caption "Software Licenses" on Schedule 2.1(e), each Purchased Project Contract constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Seller and the other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and by general equitable principles.

    Section 4.10    Conveyance of Title. Except for the Purchased Project Contracts listed under the caption "Software Licenses" on Schedule 2.1(e), (a) Seller has good and marketable title to each item of property included in the Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances and (b) Seller will convey to Purchaser at the Closing good and marketable title to each item of property included in the Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances.

    Section 4.11    Real Property. Schedule 4.11 sets forth a description of the Owned Real Property. Seller has good and marketable fee simple title in all of the Owned Real Property (except in the case of a servitude or easement, in which case Seller shall convey good and marketable title in its rights as grantee and owner of the dominant estate thereunder), free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances. Seller will convey to Purchaser at Closing, good and marketable fee simple title in all of the Owned Real Property (except in the case of a servitude or easement, in which case Seller shall convey good and marketable title in its rights as grantee and owner of the dominant estate thereunder), free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.11, there are no proceedings pending for the reduction or any contemplated increase in, the assessed valuation of the Owned Real and Personal Property.

    Section 4.12    Leased Real and Personal Property. Schedule 4.12 sets forth a list and description of the Leased Real and Personal Property. Seller has, and will convey to Purchaser at the Closing, good and valid leasehold interests in the Leased Real and Personal Property free and clear of all Encumbrances, except Permitted Encumbrances.

    Section 4.13    Condition of Purchased Assets; All Necessary Purchased Assets.

    1. To Seller's Knowledge, all of the tangible personal property included in the Purchased Assets is in good operating condition and repair, subject only to ordinary wear and tear and has been maintained by Seller since March 5, 2004, in accordance with Good Utility Practices, except as set forth in Schedule 4.13. To Seller's Knowledge, none of the tangible personal property included in the Purchased Assets is in need of repair or replacement other than as part of routine maintenance in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in Schedule 4.13.
    2. Except (i) to the extent of any immaterial or unnecessary contract, agreement, license, lease or Permit relating to the ownership, operation and maintenance of the Purchased Assets that is not assignable in whole or in part to Purchaser, (ii) for changes occurring after the Effective Date in the ordinary course of the conduct of the Business consistent with past practices and the provisions of this Agreement, including assets consumed in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) for Excluded Assets; the Purchased Assets and the Transmission Assets constitute (A) all of the assets used by Seller in connection with the ownership, operation and maintenance of the Project since Seller's acquisition of the Project on March 5, 2004, and (B) to Seller's Knowledge, constitute all of the assets, properties, rights (including any real property rights), consents and interests necessary for the use, operation and maintenance of the Project consistent with Good Utility Practices.
    Section 4.14    Intellectual Property. Seller owns or, pursuant to the Project Contracts listed on Schedule 4.8 under the caption "Software Licenses" otherwise possesses sufficient rights to use such patents, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, technology, know-how, computer software programs and applications, databases and tangible or intangible proprietary information or materials (the "Intellectual Property Rights") as are currently used in connection with the operation of the Project; provided that Seller makes no representation under this Section 4.14 with respect to such Project Contracts and the Intellectual Property Rights thereunder other than that Seller has not received a notice from any Person asserting that it is in violation of such Project Contracts and the Intellectual Property Rights thereunder, or does not hold a valid license of, such Intellectual Property Rights.

    Section 4.15    Brokers. All negotiations relating to this Agreement and the Transactions have been carried on by Seller and in such a manner as not to give rise to any valid claim against Purchaser or any of its Affiliates (by reason of Seller's actions) for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like payment to any Person.

    Section 4.16    Environmental Matters.

    (a)     To Seller's Knowledge Schedule 4.16 sets forth all Environmental Permits applicable to the Project or the Project Site, as well as any pending applications for modification, renewal, issuance or extension of any such Environmental Permits. Assuming that Purchaser meets the requirements to receive such Environmental Permits, to Seller's Knowledge, there are no impediments to the prompt renewal, transfer or extension of any such Environmental Permits as currently issued in final or draft form with an associated cost not in excess of standard modification, renewal or extension fees. To Seller's Knowledge, Seller ha s not generated, transported, released, used, stored, treated, disposed of, handled or managed any Hazardous Substance relating to the Project, except in compliance with all Environmental Laws. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16, to Seller's Knowledge (i) the Project and the Project Site are in compliance in all material respects with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits; and (ii) the Project and the Project Site are not the subject of any administrative, regulatory or judicial action, suit, investigation, proceeding, decree or claim relating to any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16, Seller does not presently own, operate, lease or use any above-ground storage tanks, underground storage tanks or other process tanks relating to the Project or at the Project Site. To Seller's Knowledge, no Environmental Condit ion currently exists at the Project or at the Project Site.

    (b)     Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16, Seller previously has not sought or obtained, nor to Seller's Knowledge has there been or is there currently environmental-insurance coverage for the Project or the Project Site.

    (c)     Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16, Seller has obtained or has a right to (or, prior to the Closing Date, will have obtained or have a right to) all Emission Allowances required by Environmental Laws for the current and anticipated future use of the Project or the Project Site during each year until the year in which the Closing occurs, and each of such Emission Allowances are, or are expected to be, in full force and effect, have been allocated or reserved for the Project or the Project Site and are not otherwise subject to sale, loss or diminution.

    Section 4.17    Tax Matters.
    1. Seller has prepared in good faith and duly and timely filed or caused to be duly and timely filed all Income Tax Returns required to be filed with respect to Income Taxes for which Seller is or could be liable for taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before Closing Date relating to the Business and the Purchased Assets (if any), which Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. Seller has paid all Income Taxes shown to be due on the Income Tax Returns. All Income Taxes (if any) imposed with respect to the Purchased Assets for which Seller is or could be liable to other entities (as, for example, under Tax allocation agreements or partnership agreements) with respect to all taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before Closing Date have been paid.
    2. Seller has prepared in good faith and duly and timely filed or caused to be duly and timely filed all Tax Returns required to be filed with respect to Taxes (other than Income Taxes) for which Seller is or could be liable for taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before Closing Date relating to the Business and the Purchased Assets, which Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects. With respect to all amounts in respect of Taxes other than Income Taxes imposed with respect to the Purchased Assets for which Seller is or could be liable, whether to Tax authorities (as, for example, under Law) or to other entities (as, for example, under Tax allocation agreements or partnership agreements) with respect to all taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before Closing Date, all applicable Tax Laws and agreements have been complied with and all such amounts required to be paid by Seller to Tax authorities or others have been paid.
    3. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.11, Seller is not a party to any action or proceeding, nor is any such action or proceeding threatened in writing, for the assessment or collection of any Taxes relating to the Business or the Purchased Assets for which Seller is or could be liable, and no deficiency notices or reports have been received by Seller in respect of any such Tax.
    Section 4.18    Project Employee Matters. No Project Employees are or have been employees of Seller. To the Knowledge of Seller, with respect to the Project Employees of others, (i) no current or former Project Employees are represented by any union or labor organization, (ii) there is no labor strike, slowdown or work stoppage pending or threatened by any current or former Project Employees relating to or affecting the Project, and (iii) there is no pending or threatened claim by any current or former Project Employees or any Governmental Authority alleging any non-compliance under Law relating directly or indirectly to employment or workplace conditions or practices related to the Project, and Seller and all Independent Contractors are in compliance with all such Laws as they relate to current and former Project Employees.

    Section 4.19    Project Employee Benefit Plans. Seller has not at any time sponsored, maintained or contributed to (i) an employee pension benefit plan (as defined in ERISA Section 3(2) which was (or is) subject to Title IV of ERISA or (ii) a multiemployer pension plan (as defined in ERISA Section 4001(a)(3)).

    Section 4.20    Regulatory Status. Seller was determined by FERC to be an exempt wholesale generator within the meaning of Section 32 of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (an "EWG") by order dated December 23, 2003 in Docket No. EG04-16-000. To Seller's Knowledge there has been no challenge to such EWG status.

    Section 4.21    Full Disclosure. No representation or warranty of Seller contained in this Agreement or in any statement, information, Schedule or certificate furnished or to be furnished by or on behalf of Seller pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or to Seller's Knowledge omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading.

    Section 4.22    Warranties. Schedule 2.1(h) identifies (a) to Seller's Knowledge, all of the warranties made or given by any Person in connection with or with respect to any of the Purchased Assets, including any warranties against defects in materials and/or workmanship, any extended warranties given in connection with any repaired or replaced work and any warranties that any Person may have assigned to Seller, (b) the Person who made or gave each such warranty, (c) if any such warranty was made or given to any Person other than Seller, the Person to whom such warranty was made or given, (d) the Purchased Assets to which each such warranty relates and (e) the duration of each such warranty. Seller holds and has the right to enforce all of the warranties identified in Schedule 2.1(h). Seller has furnished to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of, all of the warranties identified in Schedule 2.1(h) and any agr eement or instrument assigning or transferring any of such warranties.

    Section 4.23    Financial Statements; Undisclosed Liabilities.

    1. Seller has provided Purchaser with true and correct copies of its Monthly Operating Reports since Seller's acquisition of the Project. The Monthly Operating Reports present fairly, in all material respects, the results of operations of Seller for the periods therein. The Monthly Operating Reports have been prepared from the books and records of Seller.
    2. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.23(b), there are no liabilities of Seller of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined, determinable or otherwise, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances which could reasonably be expected to result in such a liability, other than operating and other current liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that do not exceed $300,000 in unpaid aggregate outstanding amount at any one time or require payments in excess of $175,000 to satisfy in the ordinary course of business during any month.< /LI>
    Section 4.24    Accuracy of Information. Seller has furnished or made available to ESI or Purchaser all documents, books, records, materials and other relevant information in Seller's custody and control related to the Project. Such information accurately presents the condition, operations and operating characteristics of the Project, including the Purchased Assets, and, except as set forth in Schedule 4.24, there has been no adverse material change in the condition, operations or operating characteristics of the Project, including the Purchased Assets, from the date any such information was provided.

    Section 4.25    Required Consents. Except for any consent required to transfer to Purchaser the Purchased Project Contracts described on Schedule 2.1(e) under the captions "Purchase Orders" and "Software Licenses", Schedule 4.25 sets forth each Seller's Required Consent and Seller's Required Regulatory Approval that is necessary with respect to the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions in order to avoid the violation or breach of, or the default under, or the creation of an Encumbrance on the Purchased Assets pursuant to the terms of, any Law or Order of any Governmental Authority or any Project Contract.

    Section 4.26    Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.26, since the date of Seller's acquisition of the Project, Seller has operated and maintained the Project and the Business in accordance with Good Utility Practices, and has not:
    1. amended, terminated, renegotiated or, except as required by their terms, renewed any existing Transmission Purchase Agreement or Purchased Project Contract; or waived any default by, or released, settled or compromised any claim against, any other party to any Transmission Purchase Agreement or Purchased Project Contract;
    2. sold, leased, transferred or disposed of, or entered into any Contract for the sale, lease, transfer or disposition of, any assets or properties which would be included in the Purchased Assets, except sales, leases, transfers or dispositions of Purchased Inventory or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and Good Utility Practices;
    3. incurred any obligations for borrowed money or guaranteed or otherwise become liable for the obligations of, or make any loans or advances to, any Person, or delayed the payment or discharge of any liability;
    4. granted or otherwise taken any action or in tentional inaction resulting in any Encumbrance on any Purchased Assets, except Permitted Encumbrances;
    5. failed to maintain in force and effect the material property and liability insurance policies related to the Project;
    6. suffered any damage or destruction adversely affecting the Project, the Business or the Purchased Assets; or
    7. agreed in writing, or otherwise, to take any action described in this Section.
    Section 4.27    Affiliates of Seller. Seller has no Affiliates other than the Seller Trust. The Seller Trust has no Affiliates other than the Seller, and the sole owners of the Seller Trust are the members of the Seller Group specifically identified by name in the definition of Seller Group.

    Section 4.28    No Third Party Options. There are no Contracts, options, commitments or rights with, of or to any Person to acquire any assets, properties or rights of Seller or any interest in such assets, properties or rights.

    Section 4.29    Insurance Coverage. Seller has furnished to Purchaser a summary of all insurance policies and fidelity bonds covering the Business or any employee or Independent Contractor of Seller. There are no pending claims by Seller under any of such policies or bonds as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or bonds.

    ARTICLE 5

    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER

    Purchaser represents and warrants to Seller, as of the Effective Date and as of the Closing Date, as follows:

    Section 5.1    Organization and Existence. Purchaser is a corporation, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Mississippi, and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted.

    Section 5.2    Execution, Delivery and Enforceability. Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which Purchaser is or becomes a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement and of the Ancillary Agreements to which Purchaser is or becomes a party, the performance by Purchaser of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action required on the part of Purchaser and no other corporate proceedings on its part are necessary to authorize the same. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Seller and Transmission Purchaser of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which either is or becomes a party, this Agreement constitutes, and the Ancillary Agreements to which Purchaser is or becomes a party when executed by Purchaser will constitute, the valid and legally binding obligations of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its and their respective terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and by general equitable principles.

    Section 5.3    No Violation. Subject to Purchaser obtaining Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals and Purchaser's Required Consents, and except for compliance with the requirements of the HSR Act, neither the execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is or becomes a party, nor Purchaser's compliance with any provision hereof or thereof, nor Purchaser's consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will:
    1. violate, or conflict with, or result in a breach of any provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of Purchaser;
    2. result in a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, or conflict with, or result in a breach of, any material terms, conditions or provisions of any material note, bond, mortgage, loan agreement, deed of trust, indenture, license or agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Purchaser is a party or by which Purchaser is bound;
    3. violate any law, writ, injunction or decree, applicable to Purchaser or any of its assets; or
    4. require the consent, approval or authorization of or from any Person which, if not obtained, would prevent Purchaser from performing its obligations hereunder, or require the declaration, filing or registration with or notice to, authorization of, consent or approval from any Person which, if not made, would prevent, materially delay or materially impair Purchaser's performance of its obligations hereunder or materially impair Purchaser's authority, right or ability to consummate the Transactions.
    Section 5.4    Brokers. All negotiations relating to this Agreement and the Transactions have been carried on by Purchaser and in such a manner as not to give rise to any valid claim against Seller (by reason of Purchaser's actions) for a brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like payment to any Person.

    Section 5.5    Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.5 or reported in Section 6.3(c), to Purchaser's Knowledge there is no claim, action, proceeding or investigation pending or threatened in writing against Purchaser or any of its Affiliates before any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority, or any judgment, decree, writ, injunction or order of any court, arbitrator or Governmental Authority binding on Purchaser or any of its Affiliates relating to any of the Purchased Assets or the Transactions, which, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to result, or has resulted, in (a) the institution of legal proceedings to prohibit or restrain the performance by Purchaser of Purchaser's obligations under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to which Purchaser is or becomes a party, or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, (b) a claim against Seller for damages as a result of Purchaser entering into this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to which Purchaser is or becomes a party or the consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or (c) a material delay in or material impairment of Purchaser's performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements to which Purchaser is or becomes a party or a material impairment of the authority, right or ability of Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

    Section 5.6    Financial Statements. Purchaser has provided Seller with true and correct copies of its audited balance sheet, income statement and statement of changes in cash flows for its fiscal year ending December 31, 2003, together with the related reports of its independent accountants, and for its fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2004 (collectively, the "Purchaser Financial Statements"). The Purchaser Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP consistently applied and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position, results of operations and cash flow of Purchaser at and for the periods therein. The Purchaser Financial Statements have been prepared from the books and records of Purchaser. All adjustments, consisting of normal, recurring accruals necessary for a fair presentation, have been made in the Purchaser Financial Statements.

    Section 5.7    No Additional Representations and Warranties. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that, except as otherwise expressly set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (a) Seller makes no representations or warranties about the Purchased Assets, the Project or the Project Site, and (b) the Purchased Assets shall be transferred to Purchaser in their condition at the time of Closing, AS-IS, WHERE-IS, without any further representation or warranty of condition whatsoever and without any further representation or warranty that the Purchased Assets are free from latent defects or vices.

    Section 5.8    No Knowledge of Breach. As of the Effective Date, Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that it has no Knowledge of any breach by Seller of any of the representations and warranties of Seller contained in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements and Purchaser hereby waives any right to assert any breach of any of the representations and warranties of Seller of which Purchaser had Knowledge as of the Effective Date.

    ARTICLE 6

    COVENANTS OF EACH PARTY

    Section 6.1    Efforts to Close. Subject to the terms and conditions herein, each of the Parties hereto shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to consummate and make effective, as soon as reasonably practicable, the Purchaser Transactions, including the satisfaction of all conditions thereto set forth herein. Such actions shall include, in the case of Seller, (a) exercising its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to obtain (i) each of the Real Estate Curative Documents (as defined in Section 8.17(h)) and (ii) each of the consents, waivers, authorizations and approvals of any Governmental Authority or other Person which is reasonably necessary to effectuate the Transactions or which is required to transfer, convey and assign to Purchaser at the Closing any and all rights of Seller, including contractual rights, necessary to operate the Purchased Assets, including Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals, Seller's Required Consents and the Title Policy and effecting all other necessary notifications, registrations and filings, including, without limitation, filings under applicable Laws, including the HSR Act, and all other necessary filings with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over Seller or the Project and (b) executing the Termination of Pre-Closing Interconnection Letter promptly after the execution of this Agreement and sending the executed Letter to Purchaser. Such actions shall include, in the case of Purchaser, exercising its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to (a) obtain each of the consents, waivers, authorizations and approvals of any Governmental Authority or other Person which is reasonably necessary to effectuate the Purchaser Transactions, including Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals, Purchaser's Additional Regulatory Approvals and Purchaser's Required Consents, and effecting all other necessary notifications, registrations and filings, including, without limitation, filings under applicable Laws, including the HSR Act, and all other necessary filings with any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over Purchaser or any of the Participating Entergy Operating Companies and (b) within a reasonable period of time after its receipt of the Termination of Pre-Closing Interconnection Letter from Seller, make all necessary filings with the applicable Governmental Authority to effect the termination of the agreement described therein as of the Closing Date.

    Section 6.2    Expenses. Whether or not the Transactions are consummated, except as otherwise provided in the Adjustment Sections or any other provision of this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Purchaser Transactions shall be paid by the Party incurring such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Purchaser Transactions (i) costs associated with preliminary title reports or commitments and the Title Policy and any endorsements required by Purchaser shall be borne jointly; (ii) documentary transfer fees, if any, will be borne in accordance with customary practices in Mississippi; (iii) recording costs and charges respecting real property comprising part of the Purchased Assets will be borne by Purchaser, except that Seller shall bear the cost of releasing any Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances) on the Purchased Assets, such as releasing any mechanic's or materia lmen's liens; (iv) except as otherwise specifically set forth in Section 6.6, all fees, charges and costs of economists and other experts, if any, jointly retained by Purchaser and Seller in connection with submissions made to any Governmental Authority and advice in connection therewith respecting approval of the Purchaser Transactions will be borne jointly; and (v) the filing fee payable in connection the notifications required to be filed under the HSR Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the Purchaser Transactions shall be borne by Purchaser. All such charges and expenses shall be promptly settled between the Parties at the Closing or upon termination or expiration of further proceedings under this Agreement, or with respect to such charges and expenses not determined as of such time, as soon thereafter as is reasonably practicable.

    Section 6.3    Notice of Certain Events.
    1. Upon obtaining Knowledge of the same, Seller shall promptly notify Purchaser in writing of (i) any fact or condition that causes or constitutes a misrepresentation or breach of any of Seller's representations and warranties made as of the Effective Date; (ii) any changes or events which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to have an unremedied Material Adverse Effect as of the Closing Date or otherwise result in any representation or warranty of Seller under this Agreement being inaccurate in any respect; (iii) any notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Transactions to the extent such consent is not otherwise contemplated hereunder; (iv) any notice or other communications from any Governmental Authority in connection with the Transactions; (v) any damage, destruction or other casualty loss (whether or not covered by insurance) with respect to the Project; (vi) any breach of or failure to perform any covenant of Seller under this Agreement; (vii) any notice of breach or other material notice given or received under the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement, and (viii) any fact or condition that may make the satisfaction of the conditions in Articles 8 or 9 impossible or unlikely. No such notification made pursuant to this Section 6.3(a), Section 6.3(b) or otherwise shall be deemed to cure any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of Seller or limit in any way Purchaser's exercise of its rights under this Agreement.
    2. Seller agrees to provide Purchaser with periodic reports regarding the status of Seller's efforts to satisfy the conditions precedent in Sections 8.12, 8.15 and 8.17 and other conditions reasonably requested by Purchaser from time to time, and regarding the expenditures made to satisfy its obligations to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to the extent the same are to be applied against the limitation specified in the definition of such term.
    3. Upon obtaining Knowledge of the same, Purchaser shall promptly notify Seller in writing of (i) any fact or condition that causes or constitutes a misrepresentation or breach of any of Purchaser's representations and warranties made as of the Effective Date; (ii) any changes or events which, individually or in the aggregate, have had or could reasonably be expected to result in any representation or warranty of Purchaser under this Agreement being inaccurate in any respect; (iii) any notice or other communication from any Person all eging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the Purchaser Transactions to the extent such consent is not otherwise contemplated hereunder; (iv) all filings made by Purchaser Group to any Governmental Authority in connection with obtaining any of Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals and Purchaser's Additional Regulatory Approvals; (v) any breach of or failure to perform any covenant of Purchaser under this Agreement; and (vi) any fact or condition that may make the satisfaction of the conditions in Articles 8 or 9 impossible or unlikely. No such notification made pursuant to this Section 6.3(c), Section 6.3(d) or otherwise shall be deemed to cure any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of Purchaser or limit in any way Seller's exercise of its rights under this Agreement.
    4. Purchaser agrees to provide Seller with periodic reports regarding the status of Purchaser's efforts to obtain Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals and Purchaser's Additional Regulatory Approvals following the occurrence of material events with respect thereto or upon request of Seller.

    Section 6.4    Conduct Pending Closing. Prior to consummation of the Transactions or the termination or expiration of this Agreement pursuant to its terms, unless Purchaser shall otherwise consent in writing, and except (i) for actions which are required by Law, (ii) for reasonable actions taken in connection with any emergency force majeure event and promptly disclosed in writing to Purchaser, (iii) for actions which arise solely from or are related to and only affect the Excluded Assets or the Excluded Liabilities, or the anticipated transfer of the Purchased Assets, or (iv) as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement or disclosed in Schedule 6.4, Seller shall:

    1. Operate and maintain the Project, or cause the Project to be operated and maintained, in all material respects in accordance with the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and Good Utility Practices and applicable Laws, including Environmental Laws, and maintain in effect the Interim LTSA and otherwise ensure the provision of customary maintenance of the combustion and steam turbines of the Project in compliance with GEII's technical requirements and information;
    2. Not amend, terminate, renegotiate or, except as required by their terms, renew any existing Transmission Purchase Agreement or Project Contract or enter into any new Project Contract that would (if it existed on the date hereof) have been required to be listed in Schedule 4.8, or default (or take or omit to take any action that, with the giving of notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a default) under Seller's obligations under any Transmission Purchase Agreement or P roject Contract or waive any default by, or release, settle or compromise any claim against, any other party to a Transmission Purchase Agreement or Project Contract;
    3. Not sell, lease, transfer or dispose of, or make any contract for the sale, lease, transfer or disposition of, any material assets or properties which would be included in the Purchased Assets, except disposition of Consumables in the ordinary course of business;
    4. Not (i) incur any obligations for borrowed money or guarantee or otherwise become liable for the obligations of, or make any loans or advances to, any Person, except as would after the Closing constitute an Excluded Liability or (ii) delay the payment or discharge of any liability under the Interim LTSA or which, upon the Closing, would be an Assumed Liability, whether because of the Transactions or otherwise;
    5. Not grant any Encumbrance on any Purchased Assets, except Permitted Encumbrances;
    6. Maintain or cause to be maintained in force and effect the material property and liability insurance policies related to the Project;
    7. Ensure that the inventory of Consumables reflected on the Closing Inventory Report shall not be less than the inventory of Consumables reasonably necessary for the operation of the Project for not less than the thirty (30) day period following the Closing;
    8. Not take any action which would cause any of Seller's representations and warranties set forth in Article 4 to be untrue in any material respect as of the Closing;
    9. Use Commercially Reasonable Efforts (i) to document, or cause to be documented, prior to the Closing, the complete terms of all Warranties the complete terms of which are not documented as of the Effective Date and (ii) to obtain assignments from third parties to Seller of all Warranties which, as of the Effective Date, are made to any Person other than Seller; and
    10. Not, without first consulting with Purchaser regarding the same, resolve, settle or compromise any material Environmental Condition, Environmental Claim or Environmental Liability, including without limitation with any Governmental Authority, which could impose any post-Closing liabilities on Purchaser or require any post-Closing Remediation;

    provided, however, that nothing in this Section 6.4 shall (i) obligate Seller to make expenditures other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, (ii) preclude Seller from paying, prepaying or otherwise satisfying any liability which, if outstanding as of the Closing Date, would be an Assumed Liability or an Excluded Liability, (iii) preclude Seller from incurring any liabilities or obligations to any third party in connection with obtaining such Party's consent to any transaction contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements provided such liabilities and obligations incurred under this clause (iii) shall be Excluded Liabilities or (iv) preclude Seller from instituting, participating in or completing any program designed to promote compliance or comply with applicable Laws or Good Utility Practices with respect to the Project or Purchased Assets or (v) obligate Seller to acquiesce in any reduction in the P urchase Price.

    Section 6.5    Regulatory Approvals.

    1. Subject to Section 6.1, as promptly as practicable after the Effective Date, but in any event on a mutually agreed date, Seller and Purchaser shall each file or cause to be filed with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice all notifications required to be filed under the HSR Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the Purchaser Transactions at Purchaser's sole cost and expense. The Parties shall consult with each other as to the appropriate time of filing such notifications and shall agree in good faith upon the timing of such filings and use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to cause the waiting periods under the HSR Act to terminate or expire at the earliest possible date after the date of filing.
    2. Subject to Section 6.5(e) each Party, as to itself, shall:
      1. promptly enter into negotiations, provide information or make proposals to the extent necessary to eliminate any concerns on the part of any Governmental Authority (other than a Governmental Authority having authority over retail utility rates) regarding the legality under any applicable Law of the consummation of the Purchaser Transactions;
      2. use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to prevent the entry in a judicial or administrative proceeding brought by any Governmental Authority or any other party for a permanent or preliminary injunction, temporary restraining order or other order that would make consummation of the Purchaser Transactions unlawful or that would prevent or delay such consummation; and
      3. take promptly, in the event that such an injunction or order has been issued in such a proceeding, any and all Commercially Reasonable Efforts, including the appeal thereof, the posting of a bond or the steps c ontemplated by Section 6.5(b)(i), necessary to vacate, modify or suspend such injunction or order so as to permit such consummation on a schedule as close as possible to that contemplated by this Agreement.
    3. Subject to Section 6.1, Purchaser shall have the responsibility for securing the transfer, reissuance or procurement of the Permits effective as of the Closing Date. Seller shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to cooperate and assist with Purchaser's transfer, reissuance or procurement of Permits, including without limitation by executing any required forms or providing timely and appropriate notices to Governmental Authorities for Purchaser to obtain all Permits that are to be transferred to it, reissued or procured pursuant to Section 2.1(f). Purchaser and Seller further acknowledge and agree that such action may be required prior to, on or after the Closing Date.
    4. Subject to Section 6.1, Purchaser and Seller shall each take all Commercially Reasonable Efforts, including without limitation executing any required forms or providing appropriate notices to Governmental Authorities, in a timely fashion, for Purchaser to obtain all, or the rights to all, Emission Allowances that are to be transferred to it pursuant to Section 2.1(k). Purchaser and Seller further acknowledge and agree that such actions may be required prior to, on or after the Closing Date.
    5. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall require Purchaser or any of its Affiliates to dispose of or sell any assets or properties or businesses, hold separate particular assets or categories of assets or properties or businesses, or agree to dispose of or hold separate one or more assets or properties.
    Section 6.6    Tax Matters.
    1. All Transfer Taxes incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (other than the Transmission Purchase Agreements) and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (whether imposed on Seller or Purchaser) shall be borne in accordance with customary practices in Mississippi. Purchaser or Seller will timely prepare and file, to the extent required by applicable Law, all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such Transfer Taxes, and timely pay the amount shown as due on such Tax Returns to the applicable Governmental Authority.
    2. With respect to Property Taxes to be prorated in accordance with Section 3.4 of this Agreement, Purchaser shall prepare and timely file all Tax Returns related thereto and required to be filed after the Closing with respect to the Purchased Assets, if any, and shall duly and timely pay all such Property Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns. Purchaser's preparation of any such Tax Returns shall be subject to Seller's approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Purchaser shall make such Tax Returns available for Seller's review and approval no later than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the due date for filing such Tax Returns, it being understood that Seller's failure to approve any such Tax Returns shall not limit Purchaser's obligation to timely file such Tax Returns and duly and timely pay all Property Taxes shown to be due thereon. Not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the due date of any such Property Taxes, Seller shall pay to P urchaser the amount shown as due on such Tax Returns as determined in accordance with Section 3.4 of this Agreement to be the responsibility of Seller and to the extent required by Law, Seller shall join in the execution of any such Tax Returns.
    3. With respect to prorated Property Taxes to be paid by Seller, Seller's preparation of any Tax Return relating to a lien for Property Taxes on or related to the Purchased Assets that will arise after the Closing Date shall be subject to Purchaser's approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed. Seller shall make such Tax Returns available for Purchaser's review and approval no later than twenty (20) Business Days prior to the due date for filing such Tax Return, it being understood that Purchaser's failure to approve any such Tax Return shall not limit Seller's obligation to timely file such Tax Returns and duly and timely pay all Property Taxes shown to be due thereon. Not less than five (5) Business Days p rior to the due date of any such Property Taxes, Purchaser shall pay to Seller the amount shown as due on such Tax Returns as determined in accordance with Section 3.4 of this Agreement to be the responsibility of Purchaser and to the extent required by Law, Purchaser or any of its Affiliates shall join in the execution of any such Tax Returns. In preparing and reviewing such Tax Returns, the Parties shall cooperate and act in good faith to resolve any disagreement related to such Tax Returns as between the Parties or as between either Party and any Governmental Authority.
    4. Purchaser and Seller shall provide the other Party with such assistance as may reasonably be requested by the other Party in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Return referred to in this Section 6.6, any audit or other examination by any Tax authority related to Taxes referred to in this Section 6.6, or any judicial or administrative proceedings relating to liability for such Taxes, and each will retain and provide the requesting Party with any records or information which may be relevant to such return, audit or examination, proceedings or determination. Any information obtained pursuant to this Section 6.6 or pursuant to any other Section hereof providing for the sharing of information relating to or review of any such Tax Return or other schedule relating to such Taxes shall be kept confidential by the Parties hereto.
    5. Any refund of Taxes paid or payable with respect to Taxes referred to in this Section 6.6 shall be promptly paid as follows (or to the extent payable but not paid due to offset against other Taxes shall be promptly paid by the Party receiving the benefit of the offset as follows): (i) to Seller if attributable to such Taxes with respect to any Tax year or portion thereof ending on or before the Closing Date (or for any Tax year beginning before and ending after the Closing Date to the extent allocable to the portion of such period beginning before and ending on the Closing Date); and (ii) to Purchaser if attributable to such Taxes with respect to any Tax year or portion thereof beginning after the Closing Date (or for any Tax year beginning before and ending after the Closing Date to the extent allocable to the portion of such period ending after the Closing Date).
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    7. In the event that a Dispute arises between Seller and Purchaser as to proration of any Taxes referred to in this Section 6.6, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve such Dispute, and any amount so agreed upon shall be paid to the appropriate Party.
    Section 6.7    Monthly Operating Reports. Seller shall prepare the Monthly Operating Reports as of the last day of each calendar month consistent with Seller's current practices, and Seller shall deliver the Monthly Operating Report for each calendar month to Purchaser on or about fifteen (15) days following the last day of each calendar month.

    Section 6.8    Risk of Loss.

    1. From the date hereof through the Closing, all risk of loss or damage to the assets and properties included in the Purchased Assets shall be borne by Seller.
    2. If, before the Closing, all or any portion of the combined Purchased Assets and Transmission Assets is damaged or destroyed (the "Damaged Portion") (whether by fire, theft, vandalism or other casualty) in whole or in part, Seller shall notify Purchaser and Transmission Assets Purchaser promptly in writing of such fact, and:
      1. For the purposes of this Section 6.8, the estimated costs of any repair or restoration of any Damaged Portion (the "Estimated Cost") and the amount of time required for such repair or restoration shall be determined by a qualified professional consultant selected by Seller but reasonably acceptable to Purchaser and, if the Damaged Portion includes the Transmission Assets, the Transmission Assets Purchaser, and each making such determination shall timely agree upon and jointly engage such consultant with the costs thereof being borne equally by those making the engagement.
      2. If the Damaged Portion could reasonably be expected to be fully repaired or restored, in accordance with Good Utility Practices, for an Estimated Cost not exceeding $5,000,000, then Seller shall bear the costs of and responsibility for fully repairing or restoring the Damaged Portion and shall promptly commence, diligently pursue and complete such repair or restoration as soon as reasonably practical, subject to paragraph (c) below.
      3. If the Damaged Portion could reasonably be expected to be fully repaired or restored, in accordance with Good Utility Practices, for an Estimated Cost equal to or greater than $5,000,000, but less than $25,000,000, then either (x) within thirty (30) days of the damage or destruction, Purchaser may by written notice to Seller and Transmission Assets Purchaser terminate this Agreement (with the resulting termination of the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement under Section 10.1(e) thereof) without either Party receiving damages with respect to such termination under this paragraph (but the right to terminate under this paragraph shall not limit either Party's rights to terminate under other provisions of this Agreement) or (y) if Purchaser does not terminate within such period then Seller shall bear the costs of and responsibility for fully repairing or restoring the Damaged Portion and shall promptly commence, diligently pursue and complete such repair or restoration as soon as reasonably practical, subject to paragraph (c) below.
      4. If the Damaged Portion could reasonably be expected to be fully repaired or restored, in accordance with Good Utility Practices for an Estimated Cost equal to or greater than $25,000,000, then within sixty (60) days of the damage or destruction, either Party may by written notice to the other and the Transmission Assets Purchaser terminate this Agreement (with the resulting termination of the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement under Section 10.1(e) thereof), and if Seller terminates under this paragraph, the Liquidated Damages for Cost and Expenses shall become due and payable in accordance with Section 10.3, but Seller's payment of such amount shall be limited to an amount equal to the lesser of half of all insurance proceeds in excess of the Purchase Price or the full amount of Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses, and otherwise without either Party receiving damages with respect to such termination under this paragraph (but the right to terminate under this paragraph shall not limit either Party's rights to terminate under other provisions of this Agreement). If neither Party terminates within such period then Seller shall bear the costs of and responsibility for fully repairing or restoring the Damaged Portion and shall promptly commence, diligently pursue and complete such repair or restoration as soon as reasonably practical, subject to paragraph (c) below.

    3. In the event Seller is responsible for repairing or restoring in accordance with any of the foregoing, then before commencing such repairs or restoration the following shall be determined: (i) if such repairs or restoration could reasonably be expected to be fully completed, in accordance with Good Utility Practices, on or before the earlier of the Expiration Date or twelve (12) months after the date of the damage or destruction (for the purposes of this Section 6.8, the earlier of such dates being the "Limit Date"), then such repairs or restoration shall be completed on or before the Limit Date and the Closing shall be delayed for such reasonable time as is necessary to accomplish the same, but in no event later than the Limit Date, or (ii) if such repairs or restoration could not reasonably be expected to be fully completed, in accordance with Good Utility Practices, on or before the Limit Date, then at Purchaser's election (A) Purchaser, Transmission Assets Purchaser a nd Seller shall agree to extend the Limit Date to the extent necessary to complete such repairs or restoration (for the purposes of this Section 6.8, the "Extended Limit Date"), including to the extent necessary by extension of the Expiration Date and the "Limit Date" and the "Expiration Date" under the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement (and with respect to Purchaser and Seller, to the extent that the Expiration Date is extended, the extension of the expiration date under the Tolling Agreement), in which case the agreed upon extensions shall become effective and such repairs shall be completed on or before the Extended Limit Date and the Closing shall be delayed for such reasonable time as is necessary to accomplish the same, but in no event later than the Extended Limit Date, or (B) subject to the approval of Transmission Assets Purchaser if the Damaged Portion includes the Transmission Assets, Purchaser and Transmission Assets Purchaser shall, to the extent the Purchased Asset s or Transmission Assets, respectively, are affected, severally accept responsibility for such repairs or restoration, the Purchase Price and the "Purchase Price" under the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement, respectively, shall be proportionately reduced by the Estimated Cost of such repairs or restoration to the respective affected assets, Purchaser and Transmission Assets Purchaser shall waive conditions precedent regarding the completion of such repairs and restoration by Seller and, if Purchaser so requests, Seller shall allow Purchaser and Transmission Assets Purchaser to begin such repairs or restoration prior to Closing subject to appropriate indemnification. In the event that clause (B) above applies and the actual cost of such repairs or restoration are less than or are more than the Estimated Cost, Seller and Purchaser agree that neither party shall have the right to make a claim against the other party for such differential, it being understood that a claim for such differential sh all not constitute a Purchaser Claim or a Seller Claim hereunder.
    4. In the event Seller is responsible for repairing or restoring in accordance with any of the foregoing, Purchaser shall receive a day for day extension for the dates on which there would otherwise be an increase in the Initial Purchase Price equal to the number of days from the date of the damage or destruction until the date the repair or restoration is complete less the number of days during such period where the conditions set forth in Section 8.4(a) and (b) have not been fulfilled or waived. In addition, Seller shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to (i) cooperate with Purchaser and if the Damaged Portion includes the Transmission Assets, Transmission Assets Purchaser, (ii) include Purchaser and if the Damaged Portion includes the Transmission Assets, Transmission Assets Purchaser, in meetings and communications relating to such repair or restoration in order to enable Purchaser and Transmission Assets Purchaser to evaluate the quality and sufficiency thereof , and (iii) complete such full repair or restoration on or before the Limit Date or the Extended Limit Date, as the case may be. If the Estimated Cost of such repair or restoration of the Damaged Portion exceeds $1,500,000, Seller will not grant its final acceptance of any such repair or restoration without Purchaser's prior written consent and, to the extent the Damaged Portion includes Transmission Assets, Transmission Assets Purchaser's prior written consent, in each case not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

    Section 6.9    Insurance. Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that, effective upon the Closing, the Project Insurance Policies shall be terminated or modified to exclude coverage of the Purchased Assets by Seller for the period after the Closing, and, as a result, Purchaser shall be obligated at or before the Closing to obtain at its sole cost and expense replacement insurance. Purchaser further acknowledges and agrees that Purchaser may need to provide to certain Governmental Authorities and third parties evidence of such replacement or substitute insurance coverage for the continued operation of the Purchased Assets following the Closing. Notwithstanding Section 2.2(g), in the event that the Closing shall actually have occurred on the Closing Date and the full amount of the Purchase Price has been paid by Purchaser to Seller, if any claims are made or Losses are incurred arising from events that occur after the Effective Date and prior to the C losing Date and that relate solely to the Purchased Assets and such claims, or the claims associated with such losses, may be made against the policies maintained by Seller prior to the Closing or under policies otherwise retained by Seller after the Closing, then Seller shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts (without incurring any additional costs or expenses) so that Purchaser can through Seller file, notice and otherwise continue to pursue such claims and recover proceeds under the terms of such policies. Purchaser shall inform Seller of any such claims no later than ninety (90) days after the Closing Date. If requested by Seller, Purchaser shall use its Commercially Reasonable Efforts to assist Seller, at Seller's cost, in obtaining so-called "tail" coverage in respect of claims brought after the Closing for events occurring prior to the Closing.

    Section 6.10    Post Closing - Further Assurances. At any time or from time to time after the Closing, each Party will, upon the reasonable request of the other Party, execute and deliver any further instruments or documents, and exercise Commercially Reasonable Efforts to take such further actions as may reasonably be required, to fulfill and implement the terms of this Agreement or realize the benefits intended to be afforded hereby. After the Closing, and upon prior reasonable request, each Party shall exercise Commercially Reasonable Efforts to cooperate with the other, at the requesting Party's expense (but including only out-of-pocket expenses to third parties and not the costs incurred by any Party for the wages or other benefits paid or payable to its officers, directors or employees in furnishing assistance), in furnishing non-privileged records, information, testimony and other assistance in connection with any inquiries, actions, audits, pro ceedings or dispute involving the Purchased Assets or any of the Parties hereto (other than in connection with Disputes between the Parties hereto) and based upon contracts, arrangements or acts of Seller or Purchaser, which were in effect or occurred on, prior to, or after Closing and which relate to the Purchased Assets, including, without limitation, arranging discussions with (and calling as a witness) officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives of Purchaser or Seller.

    Section 6.11    Information and Records.
    1. Prior to the Closing, Seller will provide or cause to be provided to Purchaser and its agents, upon reasonable notice, (i) reasonable access to all books, records, documents or information reasonably relating to the Project, the Purchased Assets or the Business; and (ii) such access to the Project, the Purchased Assets or the Business and Dave Patton or his successor, the Project plant manager, and, with Dave Patton's or his successor's oral or written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, the Project operations manager, environmental, accounting, human resources and information technology representatives and other representatives and employees of Seller and its Independent Contractors reasonably requested by Purchaser, in each case during normal business hours and at Purchaser's sole cost, risk and expense, as Purchaser may request for any reasonable purpose. Purchaser agrees that Purchaser will not disclose any Confidential Information (as defined in the Confidentiality Agreeme nt) relating to Seller, whether obtained pursuant to this Section or otherwise, to any party unless such disclosure is otherwise permitted by the Confidentiality Agreement.
    2. Prior to the execution of this Agreement, Seller has provided Purchaser with access to the Project and the Project Site and to information and personnel sufficient to allow Purchaser to assess and determine to its reasonable satisfaction the presence, scope and extent of any Environmental Conditions at the Project and the Project Site. Seller has provided Purchaser with information pursuant to requests directed to Seller or directed to any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Project or the Project Site as well as access to the Project and Project Site. This right of access has included without limitation any requests for information directed to Seller or to any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Project or the Project Site, as well as access to the Project Site by the Environmental Consultant for the purpose of performing investigations or assessments necessary or appropriate in Purchaser's reasonable discretion to assess the foreg oing, including without limitation the status of any Environmental Condition or any Release of Hazardous Substances. As a result of this investigation, the Environmental Consultant has prepared an initial Environmental Assessment dated September 22, 2004. The initial Environmental Assessment concludes that there are no Environmental Conditions; that the Environmental Consultant has not found any major issues in the area of environmental compliance for the Project or Project Site and that Seller appears to be in compliance with respect to environmental matters. As set forth in Section 6.16(a)-(d), in its discretion, Purchaser may elect to conduct a final Environmental Assessment.
    3. From the date hereof, Seller shall continue to provide Purchaser with access to information and personnel sufficient to allow Purchaser to assess and determine to its reasonable satisfaction the presence, scope and extent of any Environmental Conditions at the Project Site, the accuracy of Seller's representations and warranties in Section 4.16, the status of any Remediation and other related matters. This right of access shall include without limitation any requests for information directed to Seller or to any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Project or the Project Site, as well as access to the Project Site by the Environmental Consultant or any qualified professional consultant selected by Purchaser for the purpose of performing investigations or assessments necessary or appropriate in Purchaser's reasonable discretion to assess the foregoing, including without limitation the status of any Remediation or response to any Release of Hazardous Substances. Sell er hereby consents, for the purpose of this Section and otherwise, to any such investigation, including for the purpose of the preparation of the final Environmental Assessment.

    Section 6.12    Project Employee Matters.

    1. Purchaser has no obligation to employ or retain any Project Employees or to assume any employment agreements or other agreements related thereto and shall have no obligations or liability thereunder. Seller shall not make any written or verbal agreement, representation or statement to current, former or future Project Employees prior to the Closing about the possibility of employment or retention on the Project with Purchaser or any of its Affiliates that is inconsistent with the provisions of this Section 6.12.
    2. Subject to the restrictions of paragraph (c) below, Purchaser may, in Purchaser's sole discretion, but upon the approval of Seller which shall not be unreasonably withheld based on the estimated timing of Closing and potential interference with operation of the Project both before and after Closing, communicate with any current, former or future Project Employees prior to the Closing about the possibility of employment with Purchaser and, in Purchaser's sole discretion, elect to offer employment to any such Project Employees that would not commence earlier than the Closing and on such other terms and conditions as Purchaser shall determine. Seller shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to cause NAES to enter into with respect to the Project Employees of NAES listed in Schedule 6.12 (for the purposes of this Section 6.12, the "Designated NAES Employees") releases in favor of Purchaser from applicable confidentiality, non-competition and like agreements and other reasonable agreements consenting to and agreeing to cooperate with the rights of Purchaser under this Section 6.12.
    3. Notwithstanding Purchaser's rights under paragraph (b) above, Purchaser shall not make any offer to employ any of Designated NAES Employees to work for Purchaser on the Project unless and until the Closing takes place, and shall not otherwise make any offer to employ any Designated NAES Employees at other locations unless such employment occurs as a result of any such Project Employees contacting Purchaser for employment related to matters other than the Project prior to any discussion by Purchaser with such Project Employees of opportunities related to the Project.

    Section 6.13    Emission Allowances Adjustment. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, Purchaser and Seller shall use Commercially Reasonable Efforts, including executing any required forms or providing appropriate notices to Governmental Authorities, in a timely fashion, to ensure that Purchaser will obtain all, or the rights to all, Emission Allowances that are to be transferred to it pursuant to Section 2.1(k) hereof, including the right to receive such Emission Allowances that are to be allocated or issued by a Governmental Authority in the future. Purchaser and Seller further acknowledge and agree that such actions may be required before, on or after the Closing Date.

    Section 6.14    Additional Covenants of Seller. Seller hereby agrees with and covenants to Purchaser that Seller shall cooperate with Purchaser in assessing the Purchased Assets and their operating characteristics in the interest of facilitating an orderly transition of the management of the Purchased Assets on the Closing Date.

    Section 6.15    No Solicitation. From the date of the Letter of Intent, Seller has not and will not directly or indirectly (a) solicit, initiate, seek, respond to or take any other action to encourage inquiry or submission or proposals of offers, or accept any offers, or enter into a confidentiality agreement, letter of intent or purchase agreement or other similar agreement with any Person other than Purchaser (or Transmission Purchaser, as contemplated by the Transmission Purchase Agreements), with respect to the acquisition of some or all of the Project, including the Purchased Assets and the Transmission Assets, or a merger, consolidation, business combination, sale of all or any material portion of the securities of Seller or any similar extraordinary transaction with respect to Seller (an "Acquisition Proposal") or (b) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person other than Purchaser (or Transmis sion Purchaser, as contemplated by the Transmission Purchase Agreements) any information with respect to, or otherwise cooperate in any way with or assist, facilitate or encourage any Acquisition Proposal by any Person other than Purchaser (or Transmission Purchaser, as contemplated by the Transmission Purchase Agreements).

    Section 6.16    Environmental Matters.

        (a)    As set forth in Section 6.11(b) the initial Environmental Assessment obtained by Purchaser reflects that neither the Project nor the Project Site was, at the time of the Assessment, subject to any Environmental Condition or any violation of Environmental Law. If in its discretion Purchaser elects to conduct a final Environmental Assessment, the same shall be completed not later than sixty (60) days in advance of the Closing Date. If the final Environmental Assessment discloses that the Project or the Project Site is subject to an Environmental Condition, then Purchaser shall notify Seller and Transmission Assets Purchaser promptly in writing not later than forty-five (45) days prior to the Closing Date identifying any such Environmental Condition and furnishing a copy of said final Environmental Assessment. If, before the Closing, an Environmental Condition is discovered in a manner other than through the final Envir onmental Assessment, the discovering party shall notify the other Party and the Transmission Assets Purchaser promptly in writing of such fact. Upon notification of such Environmental Condition through the final Environmental Assessment or otherwise, the following steps shall occur:

      1. For the purposes of this Section 6.16, the estimated costs of any Remediation of an Environmental Condition (the "Estimated Cost") and the amount of time required for such Remediation shall be determined by a qualified professional consultant selected by Seller but reasonably acceptable to Purchaser and, if the Environmental Condition affects the Transmission Assets, the Transmission Assets Purchaser, and each making such determination shall timely agree upon and jointly engage such consultant with the costs thereof being borne equally by those making the engagement;
      2. If the Estimated Cost does not exceed $2,000,000, then Seller shall bear the costs of and responsibility for completing such Remediation and shall promptly commence, diligently pursue and complete such Remediation as soon as reasonably practical, subject to (y) the requirements of the Remediation Plan or any applicable Governmental Authority described in paragraph (b) below or (z) paragraph (d) below; and
      3. If the Estimated Cost exceeds $2,000,000, then either (x) within thirty (30) days after receipt of the Estimated Cost, either Party may, by written notice to the other and the Transmission Assets Purchaser, terminate this Agreement (with the resulting termination of the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement under Section 10.1(e) thereof), and for such termination no Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses shall be due if the Environmental Condition was caused by the acts of Purchaser or Transmission Assets Purchaser or the acts of third parties beyond the reasonable control of Seller, and otherwise the Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses shall become immediately due and payable by Seller in accordance with Section 10.3 (but the right to terminate under this paragraph shall not limit either Party's rights to terminate under other provisions of this Agreement) or (y), if neither Party terminates within such period, then Seller shall bear the costs of and responsi bility for completing the Remediation and shall promptly commence, diligently pursue and complete such Remediation as soon as reasonably practical, subject to (y) the requirements of the Remediation Plan or any applicable Governmental Authority described in paragraph (b) below or (z) paragraph (d) below.

        (b)     With respect to any such Remediation, Seller shall comply with the requirements of the relevant Governmental Authorities to address any such Environmental Condition so identified with the purpose of obtaining a "no further action" determination or a similar finding by such Governmental Authorities. Seller shall identify itself as the sole party responsible for compliance with the terms and conditions of the Remediation. For the purposes of subparagraphs (a)(ii) and (iii) above and paragraph (d) below, completion of the Remediation shall not have occurred until Seller has received such determination or finding.

         (c)     Seller will provide Purchaser and, if the Transmission Assets are affected by the applicable Environmental Condition, Transmission Assets Purchaser, with a copy of the draft Remediation Plan concerning any remediation to be conducted pursuant to this Section 6.16. Seller will obtain Purchaser's approval and, if the Transmission Assets are affected by the applicable Environmental Condition, Transmission Assets Purchaser's approval, of the Remediation Plan, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, prior to beginning remediation activities: (i) if the plan will result in a material modification of the operation of the Purchased Assets or the Transmission Assets or a material modification of the Purchased Assets or the Transmission Assets; (ii) if new and different monitoring of the Purchased Assets or the Transmission Assets is required by the Governmental Authorities; or (iii) if issu ance of an Environmental Permit not reflected on the Schedules to this Agreement or to the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement is required. Otherwise, Seller shall provide Purchaser and, if the Transmission Assets are affected by the applicable Environmental Condition, Transmission Assets Purchaser, with an opportunity to review and comment on the Remediation Plan.

        (d)     In the event Seller is responsible for Remediation in accordance with any of the foregoing, then before commencing such Remediation the following shall be determined: (i) if such Remediation could reasonably be expected to be fully completed on or before the earlier of the Expiration Date or twelve (12) months after the receipt of the Estimated Cost (for the purposes of this Section 6.16, the earlier of such dates being the "Limit Date"), then such Remediation shall be completed on or before the Limit Date and the Closing shall be delayed for such reasonable time as is necessary to accomplish the same, but in no event later than the Limit Date, or (ii) if such Remediation could not reasonably be expected to be fully completed on or before the Limit Date, then at Purchaser's election (A) Purchaser, Transmission Assets Purchaser and Seller shall agree to extend the Limit Date to the extent necessary to complete such Remediation (for the purposes of this Section 6.16, the "Extended Limit Date"), including to the extent necessary by extension of the Expiration Date and the "Expiration Date" and the "Limit Date" under the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement (and with respect to Purchaser and Seller, in the event that the Expiration Date is extended, the extension of the expiration date under the Tolling Agreement), in which case the agreed upon extensions shall become effective and such repairs shall be completed on or before the Extended Limit Date and the Closing shall be delayed for such reasonable time as is necessary to accomplish the same, but in no event later than the Extended Limit Date, or (B) subject to the approval of Transmission Assets Purchaser if the Transmission Assets are affected by the applicable Environmental Condition, Purchaser and Transmission Assets Purchaser shall, to the extent the Purchased Assets or Transmission Assets, respectively, are affected severally, accept responsibility for such Remediation, the Purchase Price and the "Purchase Price" under the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement, respectively, shall be proportionately reduced by the Estimated Cost of such Remediation to the respective affected assets, Purchaser and Transmission Assets Purchaser shall waive conditions precedent regarding the completion of such Remediation by Seller (and paragraphs (b) and (c) above) and, if Purchaser so requests, Seller shall allow Purchaser and Transmission Assets Purchaser to begin such Remediation prior to Closing subject to appropriate indemnification. In the event that clause (B) above applies and the actual cost of such Remediation is less than or is more than the Estimated Cost, Seller and Purchaser agree that neither party shall have the right to make a claim against the other party for such differential, it being understood that a claim for such differential shall not constitute a Purchaser Claim or a Seller Claim hereunder

        (e)     In the event that the conditions to Closing contained in Section 8.4(a) and (b) have been fulfilled or waived, Purchaser shall receive a day for day extension for the dates on which there would otherwise be an increase in the Initial Purchase Price equal to the number of days from the date of the notice of the Environmental Condition by Purchaser until the date the Remediation is complete.

    ARTICLE 7

    INDEMNIFICATION

    Section 7.1    Indemnification by Seller.
    1. Purchaser Claims. Seller will indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchaser, its Affiliates and each of their officers, directors, employees, attorneys, agents and successors and assigns (collectively, the "Purchaser Group"), from and against any and all demands, suits, penalties, obligations, damages, claims, losses, liabilities, payments, costs and expenses ("Losses"), including reasonable legal, accounting and other expenses in connection therewith and costs and expenses incurred in connection with investigations and settlement proceedings, which arise out of, are in connection with or relate to, the following (collectively, "Purchaser Claims"), in each case, even if such Losses are caused by the sole, joint or concurrent negligence, strict liability or other fault of any person included in the Purchaser Group or any other Person:
      1. any breach or violation of any covenant, obligation or agreement of Seller set forth in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements;
      2. any breach or inaccuracy of the representations or warranties made by Seller in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, whether such representation or warranty is made as of the Effective Date or the Closing Date or in any certificate to be delivered by Seller pursuant hereto; provided that for purposes of determining the amount of Losses sustained or incurred thereby, for purposes of this Section 7.1(a) only, such representations and warranties shall be interpreted without giving effect to the words "material", "materially", "Material Adverse Effect", or words of similar effect; provided, further that no indemnity is provided with respect to the second sentence of Section 4.18;
      3. Seller's ownership, operation or use of any of the Excluded Assets;
      4. the Excluded Liabilities;
      5. any Third Party Claim relating to, in connection with or arising out of the ownership, operation or use of any of the Purchased Assets, to the extent relating to any period of time on or prior to the Closing Date; or
      6. any other matter relating to the Business or the Purchased Assets, to the extent relating to any period of time on or prior to the Closing Date, or relating to any Excluded Asset or Excluded Liability.

    2. Seller Limitations. Subject to paragraph (v) below:
      1. The Purchaser Group shall not be entitled to any punitive, incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages included in any Purchaser Claim or otherwise resulting from, in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, including such damages for lost revenues, income or profits, diminution in value of the Project or for any other damage or loss resulting from the disruption to or loss of operation of the Project; provided that this limitation shall not apply to any Purchaser Claim for indemnification from any punitive, incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages awarded against Purchaser as a result of a Third Party Claim.
      2. The Purchaser Group shall not be entitled to any damages in connection with the termination of this Agreement by Purchaser pursuant to Section 10.1(c), unless at the time of the termination (y) Seller could not or would not deliver to Purchaser title to the Purchased Assets meeting the requirements set forth in Sections 4.10, 4.11, 4.12 and 4.14 or (z) the condition or the functionality of the Purchased Assets does not meet the requirements set forth in Sections 4.13 and 4.26 or is materially and adversely different from the condition or functionality of the Purchased Assets which exists as of the Effective Date.
      3. The aggregate damages to which the Purchaser Group shall be entitled under Section 7.1(a) shall be limited to (A) $23,182,676.00 less any Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses paid by Seller, with respect to Purchaser Claims asserted before the Closing, (B) $9,273,070.40, with respect to Purchaser Claims asserted after the Closing through the day before the date that is six months after the Closing Date, (C) $4,636,535.20, with respect to Purchaser Claims asserted on and after the date that is six months after the Closing Date through the date that is one year after the Closing Date and (D) $0 with respect to Purchaser Claims asserted thereafter.
      4. The Purchaser Group shall not be entitled to indemnification under Section 7.1(a) for Purchaser Claims for Purchaser General Costs and Expenses for which Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses are paid by Seller pursuant to Section 10.3.
      5. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (A) the limitations in paragraph (i) shall not apply to any claim for Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses; (B) the limitations in paragraph (ii) above shall not apply to Purchaser Claims following a termination for or in connection with a breach of Section 6.15 or to any claim for Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses and (C) the limitations in paragraph (iii) shall not apply to Purchaser Claims resulting from, in connection with or arising out of any fraudulent act or intentional breach by Seller.

    Section 7.2    Indemnification by Purchaser.

    1. Seller Claims. From and after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Seller Group from and against any and all Losses which arise out of or relate to the following (collectively, "Seller Claims"), in each case, even if such Losses are caused by the sole, joint or concurrent negligence, strict liability or other fault of any person included in the Seller Group or any other Person:
      1. any breach or violation of any covenant, obligation or agreement of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements;
      2. any breach or inaccuracy of any of the representations or warranties made by Purchaser in this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, whether such representation or warranty is made as of the Effective Date or the Closing Date or in any certificate to be delivered by Purchaser pursuant hereto; provided, that for purposes of determining the amount of Losses sustained or incurred thereby, for purposes of this Section 7.2(a), such representations and warranties shall be interpreted without giving effect to the words "material", "materially", "Material Adverse Effect", or words of similar effect;
      3. the failure of Purchaser to pay, perform or discharge any of the Assumed Liabilities as and when due;
      4. any Third Party Claim relating to or arising out of the ownership, operation or use of any of the Purchased Assets (but excluding the Excluded Assets and the Excluded Liabilities), to the extent relating to any period of time after the Closing Date;
      5. any personal injury or physical property damage to the Purchased Assets, the Transmission Assets or other property arising out of the acts or omissions of any officer, director, employee, agent or representative of Purchaser or of any consultant selected by Purchaser in the performance of the activities described in Section 6.11(c); or
      6. any other matter relating to the business of Purchaser or the Purchased Assets (but excluding the Excluded Assets and the Excluded Liabilities), to the extent arising during and relating solely to any period of time after the Closing Date, or any Assumed Liability.

    2. Purchaser Limitations.
      1. The Seller Group shall not be entitled to any punitive, incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages included in any Seller Claim or otherwise resulting from, in connection with or arising out of this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, including such damages for lost revenues, income or profits, diminution in value of the Project or for any other damage or loss resulting from the disruption to or loss of operation of the Project; provided that this limitation shall not apply to any Seller Claim for indemnification from any punitive, incidental, indirect, special or consequential damages awarded against Seller as a result of a Third Party Claim.
      2. The aggregate damages to which the Seller Group shall be entitled under Section 7.2(a) shall be limited to (A) $23,182,676.00, with respect to Seller Claims asserted before the Closing, (B) $9,273,070.40, with respect to Seller Claims asserted after the Closing through the day before the date that is six months after the Closing Date, (C) $4,636,535.20, with respect to Seller Claims asserted on and after the date that is six months after the Closing Date through the date that is one year after the Closing Date and (D) $0 with respect to Seller Claims asserted thereafter.
      3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the limitations in paragraph (ii) above shall not apply with respect to Seller Claims resulting from, in connection with or arising out of any fraudulent act or intentional breach by Purchaser.
    Section 7.3    Notice of Claim. Subject to the terms of this Agreement and upon receipt of notice of the assertion of a claim or of the commencement of any suit, action or proceeding that is a Third Party Claim against any member of the Purchaser Group or the Seller Group entitled to indemnification under Section 7.1, or Section 7.2, respectively, such Person entitled to indemnification hereunder (the "Indemnitee") will promptly notify the Party against whom indemnification is sought (the "Indemnitor") in writing of any damage, claim, loss, liability or expense which the Indemnitee has determined has given or could give rise to a claim under Section 7.1 or Section 7.2. Such written notice is herein referred to as a "Notice of Claim." A Notice of Claim will specify, in reasonable detail, the facts known to the Indemnitee regarding the claim. Subject to the terms of this Agreement, the failure to provide (o r timely provide) a Notice of Claim will not affect the Indemnitee's rights to indemnification; provided, however, the Indemnitor is not obligated to indemnify the Indemnitee for the increased amount of any claim which would otherwise have been payable to the extent that the increase resulted from the failure to deliver timely a Notice of Claim.

    Section 7.4    Defense of Third Party Claims. The Indemnitor shall defend, in good faith and at its expense, any claim or demand set forth in a Notice of Claim relating to a Third Party Claim and the Indemnitee, at its expense, may participate in the defense. The Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Third Party Claim so long as the Indemnitor is defending it in good faith. If the Indemnitor elects not to contest a Third Party Claim, the Indemnitee may undertake its defense, and the Indemnitor will be bound by the result obtained by the Indemnitee. The Indemnitor may at any time request the Indemnitee to agree to the abandonment of the contest of the Third Party Claim or to the payment or compromise by the Indemnitor of the asserted claim or demand. If the Indemnitee does not object in writing within fifteen (15) days of the Indemnitor's request, the Indemnitor may proceed with the action stated in the request. If, within that fifteen (15) day p eriod, the Indemnitee notifies the Indemnitor in writing that it has determined that the contest should be continued, the Indemnitor shall be liable under this Article 7 only for an amount up to the amount which the Indemnitor had proposed be accepted in payment or compromise. This Section 7.4 is subject to the rights of any insurance carrier of Indemnitee that is defending the Third Party Claim.

    Section 7.5    Cooperation. The Party defending the Third Party Claim shall (a) consult with the other Party throughout the pendency of the Third Party Claim regarding the investigation, defense, settlement, trial, appeal or other resolution of the Third Party Claim and (b) afford the other Party the opportunity to be associated in the defense of the Third Party Claim. The Parties shall cooperate in the defense of the Third Party Claim. The Indemnitee shall make available to the Indemnitor or its representatives all records and other materials reasonably required by them for use in contesting any Third Party Claim (subject to obtaining an agreement to maintain the confidentiality of confidential or proprietary materials in a form reasonably acceptable to Indemnitor and Indemnitee). If requested by the Indemnitor, the Indemnitee shall cooperate with the Indemnitor and its counsel in contesting any Third Party Claim that the Indemnitor elects to cont est or, if appropriate, in making any counterclaim against the Person asserting the claim or demand, or any cross-complaint against any Person. The Indemnitor shall reimburse the Indemnitee for any expenses incurred by Indemnitee in cooperating with or acting at the request of the Indemnitor.

    Section 7.6    Minimum Claim. No Party shall have any liability or obligation to indemnify under Section 7.1(a)(ii) or Section 7.2(a)(ii), unless and until the aggregate amount for which such Party would be liable thereunder, but for this provision, exceeds Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000), in which event recovery by the Indemnified Parties shall include the full aggregate amount of such liability, including such amounts as do not exceed such threshold amount. Nothing in this Section 7.6 is intended to modify or limit a Party's liability or obligation hereunder for other indemnifiable Claims.

    Section 7.7    Purchase Price Adjustment. Any and all payments required to be made under this Article 7 shall be treated by all Parties as an adjustment to the Purchase Price.

    Section 7.8    Specific Performance. Seller acknowledges that the Purchaser Transactions are unique and that Purchaser will be irreparably injured should such Transactions not be consummated in a timely fashion. Consequently, Purchaser will not have an adequate remedy at law if Seller shall fail to sell the Purchased Assets when required to do so hereunder. In such event, Purchaser shall have the right, in addition to any other remedy available in equity or law, to specific performance of such obligation by Seller, subject to Purchaser's performance of its obligations hereunder. Purchaser acknowledges that the Purchaser Transactions are unique and that Seller will be irreparably injured should such Transactions not be consummated in a timely fashion. Consequently, Seller will not have an adequate remedy at law if Purchaser shall fail to purchase the Purchased Assets when required to do so hereunder. In such event, Seller shall have the right, in ad dition to any other remedy available in equity or law, to specific performance of such obligation by Purchaser, subject to Seller's performance of its obligations hereunder.

    Section 7.9    Exclusivity. Except as provided in Section 7.8 and Section 10.3, and except in the case of any fraudulent act or intentional breach, the rights and remedies of Seller and members of the Seller Group, on the one hand, and Purchaser and members of the Purchaser Group, on the other hand, for money damages under this Article are, solely as between Seller and the Seller Group on the one hand, and Purchaser and the Purchaser Group on the other hand, exclusive and in lieu of any and all other rights and remedies for money damages which each of Seller and members of the Seller Group on the one hand, and Purchaser and members of the Purchaser Group on the other hand, may have under this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements or under applicable Law with respect to any indemnifiable Claim, whether at common law or in equity.

    ARTICLE 8

    PURCHASER'S CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

    The obligation of Purchaser to consummate the Transactions hereunder shall be subject to fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions, except to the extent Purchaser waives such fulfillment in writing:

    Section 8.1    Compliance with Provisions. Seller shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all covenants, obligations and agreements contained in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements on its part required to be performed or complied with at or prior to the Closing.

    Section 8.2    HSR Act. The waiting period under the HSR Act applicable to the consummation of the sale of the Purchased Assets contemplated hereby shall have expired or been terminated.

    Section 8.3    No Restraint. There shall be no:
    1. Preliminary or permanent Order which prevents the consummation of the Transactions as herein provided; or
    2. Action taken, or Law enacted, promulgated or deemed applicable to the Transactions, by any Governmental Authority which prohibits the consummation of the Transactions as herein provided.
    Section 8.4    Required Regulatory Approvals and Consents.
    1. All of Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals and all of Purchaser's Required Consents shall have been obtained and shall not have been granted subject to or containing any terms or conditions not satisfactory to Purchaser, in its sole discretion, and shall be final and not subject to appeal or otherwise subject to challenge or modification (except with respect to the same provided by Mississippi regulatory authorities, which shall be as final as allowed prior to Closing, and not subject to any appeal, challenge or modification which Purchaser determines may cause the same to be or become unavailable or unsatisfactory following Closing).
    2. All of Purchaser's Additional Regulatory Approvals shall have been obtained and shall not have been granted subject to or containing any terms or conditions not satisfactory to Purchaser and each of the Participating Entergy Operating Companies, in their sole discretion, and shall be final and not subject to appeal or otherwise subject to challenge or modification (except with respect to the same provided by Mississippi regulatory authorities, which shall be as final as allowed prior to Closing, and not subject to any appeal, challenge or modification which Purchaser determines may cause the same to be or become unavailable or unsatisfactory following Closing).
    3. All of Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals and Seller's Required Consents shall have been made or obtained and shall be in such forms as could not reasonably be expected to (i) materially impair the authority, right or ability of Purchaser to consummate the Transactions or of Purchaser or any Participating Entergy Operating Company to consummate the Participating Entergy Operating Company Transactions, (ii) have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the Business, Purchaser or any Participating Entergy Operating Company, (iii) require any material modification to this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, the Transactions or the Participating Entergy Operating Company Transactions, or (iv) impose any restrictions upon Purchaser's ownership or operation of the Purchased Assets or Purchaser's or any Participating Entergy Operating Company's ownership of their respective assets or operation of their respec tive businesses, including any restrictions on use of assigned contracts.

    Section 8.5    Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Seller set forth in this Agreement that are qualified with respect to materiality shall be true and correct in all respects, and the representations and warranties of Seller set forth in this Agreement that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, on and as of the Effective Date and the Closing Date.

    Section 8.6    Officer's Certificate. Purchaser shall have received a certificate from Seller, executed on its behalf by an authorized officer, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 8.1, Section 8.4 (to the extent relating to Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals) and Section 8.5 have been satisfied.

    Section 8.7    Title Insurance. Title to the Real Property shall have been evidenced by the willingness of a title insurance company reasonably acceptable to Purchaser (the "Title Insurer") to issue at regular rates an owner's, and if applicable, leasehold policy of title insurance in the amount of the Purchase Price and such endorsements as reasonably may be required by Purchaser, in the name of Purchaser on the policy form issued in the State of Mississippi that does not differ in any material respect from the Preliminary Title Commitment (other than endorsements deemed appropriate by Purchaser) and that will include only the exceptions to coverage listed on Schedule B-II to the Preliminary Title Commitment, excluding those exceptions listed in Schedule 8.7 (the "Title Policy"). The willingness of the Title Insurer to issue the Title Policies shall be evidenced either by the issuance thereof at the Closing or by the Title Insurer's delivery of written commitments or binders, dated as of the Closing Date (but insuring title as of the date title conveyance documents are recorded), to issue such Title Policies within a reasonable time after the Closing Date, subject to actual transfer of the real property in question.

    Section 8.8    New LTSA. Purchaser shall have negotiated and executed a long term services agreement with GEII with respect to the combustion and steam turbines of the Project on terms satisfactory to Purchaser in its sole discretion (the "New LTSA"), which shall become effective at Closing.

    Section 8.9    Material Adverse Effect. Since the Effective Date, no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred.

    Section 8.10    Legal Opinion. Purchaser shall have received an opinion or opinions from Greenberg Traurig, LLP, dated the Closing Date covering matters relating to entity existence and qualification to do business, authority, no violation or conflicts with organizational documents, contracts or applicable laws and no required consents or approvals, subject to the conditions and limitations therein and to other customary conditions and limitations.

    Section 8.11    No Termination. Neither Party shall have exercised any termination right such Party is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 10.1.

    Section 8.12    No Unremediated Environmental Conditions. If Purchaser elects, the Environmental Consultant shall have delivered to Purchaser a reasonably acceptable and complete final Environmental Assessment, and Purchaser shall be satisfied, in its reasonable discretion based upon investigation conducted pursuant to Section 6.11(b) and otherwise, that there is no Environmental Condition at the Project Site requiring any Remediation, or if there is, Seller shall have completed the Remediation in accordance with Section 6.16.

    Section 8.13    Warranties. The Warranties listed in Schedule 2.1(h) shall be included in the Purchased Assets to be assigned to Purchaser at the Closing and any consent, waiver or approval required to be obtained from the grantor of any of such Warranties in connection with the consummation of the Transactions shall have been obtained.

    Section 8.14    No Condemnation. None of the Purchased Assets in whole or in part, shall have become subject to or threatened with any condemnation or eminent domain proceeding.

    Section 8.15    No Unrepaired Casualty. If all or any portion of the Purchased Assets shall have been damaged or destroyed (whether by fire, theft, vandalism or other casualty) in whole or in part, Seller shall have completed the full repair or restoration of the Damaged Portion in accordance with Section 6.8, including, if required pursuant to Section 6.8, Seller shall have obtained Purchaser's written consent to Seller's final acceptance of such repair and restoration.

    Section 8.16    Evidence of Cure. Purchaser shall have received evidence reasonably satisfactory to it that any uncured violations set forth in Schedule 4.4 shall have been cured.

    Section 8.17    Receipt of Other Documents. Purchaser shall have received the following:
    1. Certificates of Good Standing with respect to Seller as of a recent date issued by the Secretary of State of Delaware and Mississippi;
    2. Copies of the certificate of formation and the limited liability company agreement of Seller certified by the Secretary of State of Delaware, together with a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or similarly situated individual) of Seller that none of such documents have been amended;
    3. Copies, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or similarly situated individual) of each of Seller of resolutions of its board of directors or similar governing body authorizing the execution and delivery by Seller of this Agreement and of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and authorizing the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, as applicable, and authorizing or ratifying the execution and delivery of, and performance of its obligations under, all of the other agreements and instruments, in each case, to be executed and delivered by Seller in connection herewith;
    4. A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or similarly situated individual) of Seller identifying the name and title and bearing the signatures of the officers of Seller authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and the other agreements and instruments contemplated hereby;
    5. Releases in favor of Purchaser from applicable confidentiality, non-competition and like agreements and other reasonable agreements consenting to and agreeing to cooperate with the rights of Purchaser as contemplated by Section 6.12(b), in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser and to the extent available after Seller's efforts in accordance with Section 6.12(b);
    6. The Closing Inventory Report;
    7. A receipt for the Initial Purchase Price as adjusted by the Closing Adjustment;
    8. (i) Estoppel certificates in form reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser from the lessor under no less than 5 of the 7 leases pertaining to Leased Real Property dated no earlier than the date on which Purchaser requests Seller to send such estoppel certificates to each such lessor, which notice shall be sent no later than ninety (90) days prior to the expected Closing Date and (ii) evidence in form reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser that the required notices to each lessor under each lease pertaining to Leased Real Property have been properly given (the foregoing items (i) and (ii) being the "Real Estate Curative Documents"); and
    9. evidence in form reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser that (i) the required notices described in Section 2.5(a)(ii) have been given and (ii) the transfer of each Material Software License to Purchaser has occurred and all necessary consents to such transfers have been obtained on terms satisfactory to Purchaser or that the applicable Replacement License Agreement has been entered into by Seller.
    Section 8.18    Termination of Other Documents. Purchaser shall have received evidence of the satisfactory termination of the following documents and agreements:
    1. The Interim LTSA;
    2. The Tolling Agreement; and
    3. Any agreements with Independent Contractors with respect to Project Employees, including Seller's arrangements with NAES, but excluding Seller's arrangements with Kelson Attala, to the extent permitted by the terms of such agreements.
    Section 8.19    Consumables. Purchaser shall have confirmed to its reasonable satisfaction that the inventory of Consumables is sufficient, as reasonably estimated by Purchaser, for the operation of the Project (assuming operation of the Project at a fifty percent (50%) capacity factor) for the thirty (30) day period following the Closing.

    Section 8.20    Inspection. Purchaser shall have completed a pre-closing inspection of the Project and the Project Site not more than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing and confirmed and verified, to its reasonable satisfaction, (a) the accuracy of Seller's representations and warranties set forth in Article 4, and Seller's performance of and compliance with its covenants set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (b) that no Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred since the Effective Date and that there shall not have been any material adverse change in the physical condition or operations of the Project or the Project Site since November 12, 2004, except ordinary wear and tear or matters the subject of Section 6.8 and Section 8.15.

    Section 8.21    Transmission Assets. All conditions in Article 8 of the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement to the consummation of the "Closing" under, and as such term is defined in, the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement shall have been fulfilled or waived in a manner acceptable to Purchaser, and Seller and Transmission Assets Purchaser shall be ready to and shall effect such Closing contemporaneously with the Closing under this Agreement.

    ARTICLE 9

    SELLER'S CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

    The obligation of Seller to consummate the Transactions hereunder shall be subject to fulfillment at or prior to the Closing of the following conditions, except to the extent Seller waives such fulfillment in writing:

    Section 9.1    Compliance with Provisions. Purchaser shall have performed or complied in all material respects with all covenants, obligations and agreements contained in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements on its part required to be performed or complied with at or prior to the Closing.

    Section 9.2    HSR Act. The waiting period under the HSR Act applicable to the consummation of the sale of the Purchased Assets contemplated hereby shall have expired or been terminated.

    Section 9.3    No Restraint. There shall be no:

    1. Preliminary or permanent Order which prevents the consummation of the Transactions as herein provided; or
    2. Action taken, or Law enacted, promulgated or deemed applicable to the Transactions, by any Governmental Authority which prohibits the consummation of the Transactions as herein provided.
    Section 9.4    Required Regulatory Approvals and Consents.
    1. All of Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals and all of Seller's Required Consents shall have been obtained, and shall be final and not subject to appeal or otherwise subject to challenge or modification, in each case to the extent necessary to prevent any condition that could reasonably be expected to (i) materially impair Seller's authority, right or ability to consummate the Transactions or (ii) have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of Seller; provided that to the extent any of Seller's Required Regulatory Approvals or Seller's Required Consents with respect to any Purchased Asset have not been obtained and Purchaser elects to proceed to Closing, then Seller shall treat such Purchased Asset in accordance with Section 2.5 and this condition shall not apply to such Seller's Required Regulatory Approval or Seller's Required Consent.
    2. All of Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals and Purchaser's Required Consents (other than the Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals that relate to the transfer of the Purchased Permits) shall have been made or obtained and shall be in such forms as could not reasonably be expected to (i) materially impair Seller's authority, right or ability to consummate the Transactions or (ii) have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of Seller.
    Section 9.5    Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement that are qualified with respect to materiality shall be true and correct in all respects, and the representations and warranties of Purchaser set forth in this Agreement that are not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, on and as of the Effective Date and the Closing Date.

    Section 9.6    Officer's Certificate. Seller shall have received a certificate from Purchaser, executed on its behalf by an authorized officer, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the conditions set forth in Section 9.1, Section 9.4 (to the extent relating to Purchaser's Required Regulatory Approvals) and Section 9.5 have been satisfied.

    Section 9.7    Legal Opinion. Seller shall have received an opinion or opinions from internal counsel for Purchaser dated the Closing Date covering matters relating to corporate existence and qualification to do business, authority, no violation or conflicts with organizational documents, contracts or applicable laws and no required consents or approvals, subject to the conditions and limitations therein and to other customary conditions and limitations.

    Section 9.8    No Termination. Neither Party shall have exercised any termination right such Party is entitled to exercise pursuant to Section 10.1.

    Section 9.9    Receipt of Other Documents. Seller shall have received the following:
    1. A Certificate of Good Standing with respect to Purchaser, as of a recent date, issued by the Secretary of State of Mississippi;
    2. Certified copies of the articles of incorporation and the bylaws of Purchaser, together with a certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Purchaser that none of such documents have been amended;
    3. Copies, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Purchaser, of resolutions of the board of directors of Purchaser authorizing the execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement, and each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and the performance of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, and authorizing the execution and delivery of, and performance of its obligations under, all of the other agreements and instruments, in each case, to be executed and delivered by Purchaser in connection herewith; and
    4. A certificate of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Purchaser, identifying the name and title and bearing the signatures of the officers of Purchaser authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement, and each Ancillary Agreement to which Purchaser is a party and the other agreements and instruments contemplated hereby.
    Section 9.10    Transmission Assets. All conditions in Article 9 of the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement to the consummation of the "Closing" under, and as such term is defined in, the Transmission Assets Purchase and Sale Agreement shall have been fulfilled or waived as required thereunder, and Transmission Assets Purchaser shall be ready to and shall effect such Closing contemporaneously with the Closing under this Agreement.

    ARTICLE 10

    TERMINATION

    Section 10.1    Rights to Terminate. To the extent set forth in Section 10.2, this Agreement may be terminated (the date of such termination being the "Termination Date"):
    1. At any time prior to the Closing, by mutual written consent of Seller and Purchaser;
    2. By one Party upon written notice to the other Party on or after the Expiration Date;
    3. By one Party upon written notice to the other Party if there has been a material default or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other provision under this Agreement by such other Party that is not cured by the earlier of the Closing Date or the date thirty (30) days after receipt by such other Party of written notice from the terminating Party specifying with particularity such breach or default;
    4. By one Party upon written notice to the other Party: (i) at any time prior to the Closing, if any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Closing, and such order, judgment or decree shall have become final without the possibility of appeal; or (ii) at any time prior to the Closing, if any Law shall have been enacted or issued by any Governmental Authority which, directly or indirectly, prohibits the consummation of the Transactions;
    5. By one Party upon written notice to the other Party, if Purchaser determines that any of Purchaser's conditions to Closing set forth in Article 8 will not be satisfied and will not be waived by Purchaser prior to Closing, including if Purchaser determines that the conditions specified in Section 8.4 or Section 8.21 will not be satisfied or waived prior to Closing on terms satisfactory to Purchaser in accordance with the requirements of such section;
    6. By one Party upon written notice to the other Party, to the extent authorized under Section 6.8 or Section 6.16; and
    7. By one Party upon written notice to the other Party, if such other Party is or becomes Bankrupt or there are proceedings pending or being contemplated by it or threatened against it which could reasonably be expected to result in it being or becoming Bankrupt.

    Section 10.2    Effect of Termination. If there has been a termination pursuant to Section 10.1 then this Agreement shall be deemed terminated, and all further obligations of the Parties hereunder shall terminate, except that (a) obligations incurred prior to the termination, including obligations related to the breach of this Agreement prior to the termination, shall survive and (b) obligations under Section 6.2 and Section 10.3 and under Article 7 and Article 11 shall survive. In the event of such termination of this Agreement, there shall be no liability for damages on the part of a Party to another under and by reason of this Agreement except as set forth in Article 7 and Section 10.3, and except for intentionally fraudulent acts by a Party, the remedies for which shall not be limited by the provisions of this Agreement. The foregoing provisions shall not, however, limit or restrict the availab ility of specific performance or other injunctive or equitable relief to the extent that specific performance or such other relief would otherwise be available to a Party hereunder.

    Section 10.3    Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses. If Purchaser terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1(c) or Section 10.1(g), or if this Agreement is terminated by either Party pursuant to Section 10.1(e) (other than with respect to (i) any unsatisfied or unwaived condition in Article 8 the satisfaction of which was required to have been achieved by Purchaser under the terms of this Agreement, (ii) any unsatisfied or unwaived condition from the Transmission Purchase Agreements or the Transmission Arrangement Agreements incorporated in Section 8.21 the satisfaction of which was required to have been achieved by Transmission Purchaser or Purchaser under the terms thereof, (iii) satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.17(h) or Section 8.17(i)), or if this Agreement is terminated by either Party in accordance with Section 6.8 or Section 6.16 but only to the extent described in accordance with Section 6.8 or Section 6.16; then the Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses shall become immediately due and payable by Seller and Seller shall pay the Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses to Purchaser within ten (10) calendar days of Seller's receipt of notice of such termination (or, if later, the date on which such notice is effective), by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by Purchaser. The payment of the Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses constitutes liquidated damages to reimburse Purchaser for the internal management, technical, legal and general and administrative costs and expenses of Purchaser with respect to, or that would not otherwise have been incurred absent, the negotiation, execution, delivery and performance and termination under this Agreement through the date of termination (the "Purchaser General Costs and Expenses"). With respect to the Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expen ses, the Parties acknowledge and agree that (i) the damages of Purchaser associated with the Purchaser General Costs and Expenses are likely to be substantial and unreasonably difficult to quantify, (ii) the Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses are a reasonable estimate of Purchaser's actual damages for the Purchaser General Costs and Expenses, (iii) payment of the Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses are appropriate as liquidated damages and are not a penalty, and (iv) payment of the Liquidated Damages for Costs and Expenses shall be deemed Purchaser's sole and exclusive remedy of Purchaser under this Agreement for damages associated with Purchaser General Costs and Expenses, but not for any other damages of Purchaser such as direct damages for any difference between the value of the Purchased Assets and the Purchase Price that may be payable to Purchaser in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.1.

    ARTICLE 11

    GENERAL PROVISIONS

    Section 11.1    Entire Document; Amendments. This Agreement (including the Exhibits and Schedules to this Agreement), the Ancillary Agreements to which they are a party, and the Confidentiality Agreement contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the Purchaser Transactions, and supersede all negotiations, representations, warranties, commitments, offers, contracts and writings (except for, the Confidentiality Agreement and any such Ancillary Agreements executed prior to the date hereof) prior to the execution date of this Agreement, written or oral. No modification or amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless made in writing and duly signed by the Parties referring specifically to this Agreement.

    Section 11.2    Schedules. Seller may from time to time notify Purchaser of any changes or additions to any of Seller's Schedules to this Agreement and Purchaser may from time to time notify Seller of any changes or additions to any of Purchaser's Schedules to this Agreement by the delivery of amendments or supplements thereto. No such notification, change, addition, amendment or supplement shall become effective or cure any breach of any representation or warranty, covenant or other provision of this Agreement unless and until the same has been approved by the other Party in its sole discretion, except with respect to Schedules 2.1(c)-(j), 2.2(g), 4.8, 4.24, 4.25, and 6.12, where the other Party's approval shall not be unreasonably withheld provided that the same reflects an updated condition occurring as a result of the ordinary course of business in compliance with the terms of this Agreement that could not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect upon such Party or with respect to Seller's Schedules a Material Adverse Effect.

    Section 11.3    Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which is an original, but all of which together constitute one and the same instrument.

    Section 11.4    Severability. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be valid, binding and enforceable under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, void (or voidable) or unenforceable under applicable Law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent held to be invalid, void (or voidable) or unenforceable, without affecting the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. To the extent permitted by Law, the Parties waive any provision of Law that renders any provision hereof prohibited or unenforceable in any respect.

    Section 11.5    Assignment. The rights under this Agreement shall not be assignable or transferable nor the duties delegable by either Party without the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent may be granted or withheld in such other Party's sole discretion. Seller will not unreasonably withhold its consent to any such assignment, transfer or delegation of this Agreement by Purchaser to an Affiliate of Purchaser. Any assignment effected in accordance with this Section 11.5 will not relieve the assigning Party of its obligations and liabilities under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party. Any purported assignment or delegation not effected in accordance with this Section 11.5 shall be deemed void.

    Section 11.6    Captions. The captions of the various Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this Agreement have been inserted only for convenience of reference and do not modify, explain, enlarge or restrict any of the provisions of this Agreement.

    Section 11.7    Governing Law. The validity, interpretation and effect of this Agreement are governed by and will be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of law doctrines (other than Section 5-1401 of the New York General Obligations Law), except to the extent that (i) certain matters are preempted by federal law or are governed by the law of the respective jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, as applicable of the Parties or (ii) certain matters with respect to real property are governed by the law of the State of Mississippi.

    Section 11.8    Dispute Resolution.
    1. Generally: The dispute resolution procedures set forth in this Section 11.8 shall govern the resolution of any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of, under or relating to this Agreement and the Purchaser Transaction and any right or obligation thereunder, or the breach or termination thereof ("Dispute"), unless otherwise provided in this Agreement or mutually agreed to by the Parties. Resolution of any Dispute hereunder shall be by senior executives of the Parties or, upon failure to timely reach a solution in such manner, litigation, all as provided in this Section 11.8.
    2. Negotiation by Representatives: In the event of a Dispute, the Party seeking resolution shall begin this process by first providing written notice of the Dispute to the other Party which notice shall contain a brief description of the Dispute. Not later than seven (7) days after the date of delivery of the initial notice of Dispute, each Party shall select and appoint a representative to attempt to resolve the Dispute. Not later than fourteen (14) days after delivery of the initial written notice of said Dispute, each Party shall provide to the other a written explanation of the material particulars of its position as to the Dispute. Not later than twenty-one (21) days after delivery of the written notice of a Dispute, as provided above, the representatives selected by the Parties shall meet to attempt in good faith to settle the Dispute ("First Meeting Deadline") and to produce a written agreement setting forth the terms of settlement. The writ ten settlement agreement, if any, when signed by each Party, shall govern the Parties' resolution of the Dispute and serve as conclusive evidence of the resolution of such Dispute. If and only if, the Parties' representatives fail to produce and the Party's fail to sign a written settlement agreement, then (A) not later than fourteen (14) days after the date of such representatives' first meeting, or (B) within twenty-one (21) days after the First Meeting Deadline (in the event the representatives fail to meet by the First Meeting Deadline), or (C) within such longer period as may be mutually agreed to by the Parties in writing, then either Party may commence litigation in accordance with Section 11.8(c).
    3. Initiation of Litigation: After, but only after, the period for resolution of a Dispute set forth above has terminated without a resolution of a Dispute, or earlier if both Parties agree, the Dispute may be submitted for litigation. In the event that litigation is commenced, the substance of any and all communications between the Parties or their representatives pursuant to Sections 11.8(a) and (b) above shall be treated as settlement discussions and shall not be admissible as evidence in the litigation of the Dispute (except to establish, if necessary, the Parties compliance or non-compliance with the provisions of the Dispute Resolution process set forth in this Section 11.8).
    4. Waiver of Jury Trial: EACH OF THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION, ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
    Section 11.9    Notices. All notices, requests, statements or payments shall be made as specified below. Notices shall, unless otherwise specified herein, be in writing and may be delivered by hand delivery, United States mail, overnight courier service, electronic mail or other electronic transmission, or facsimile. Notice by facsimile, electronic mail or other electronic transmission or hand delivery shall be effective at the close of business on the day actually received, if received during business hours on a Business Day, and otherwise shall be effective at the close of business on the next Business Day. Notice by overnight courier shall be effective on the next Business Day after it was sent and notice by mail shall be effective on five (5) days following deposit in the United States mail, postage prepaid. A Party may change its addresses by providing notice of same in accordance herewith.

            If to Seller to:

    Central Mississippi Generating Company, LLC
    c/o R.W. Beck Plant Management Ltd.
    The Corporate Center, East Wing
    550 Cochituate Road
    Framingham, MA 01701
    Attention: David L. Patton
    Fax: (508) 935-1888
     

            with a copy to:

    Greenberg Traurig, LLP
    200 Park Avenue
    New York, NY 10166
    Attention: Nathan Limpert
    Fax: (212) 801-6400
    and

            If to Purchaser to:

    Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
    City Centre
    200 South Lamar
    Suite 500
    Jackson, MS 39201
    Attention: Carolyn Shanks

            with copies to:

    Entergy Services, Inc.
    Parkwood 2 Building - Suite 300
    10055 Grogan's Mill Road
    The Woodlands, TX 77380
    Attention: Bill Mohl
    Fax: 281-297-3929

    Entergy Services, Inc.
    Parkwood 2 Building - Suite 300
    10055 Grogan's Mill Road
    The Woodlands, TX 77380
    Attention: Carol St. Clair
    Fax: 281-297-3945


    Bracewell & Patterson, L.L.P.
    711 Louisiana, Suite 2900
    Houston, TX 77002
    Attention: Robert Stephens
    Fax: 713-222-3202

    or to such other Person at such other address as a Party shall designate by like notice to the other Party.

    Any Party may from time to time change its address for the purpose of notices to that Party by a similar notice specifying a new address, but no such change is effective until it is actually received by the Party sought to be charged with its contents.

    Section 11.10    No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as may be specifically set forth in this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, is intended to confer any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any Person other than the Parties, their respective permitted successors and assigns, and any Person benefiting from the indemnities provided herein, nor is anything in this Agreement intended to relieve or discharge the obligation or liability of any third Persons to any Party, nor give any third Persons any right of subrogation or action against any Party.

    Section 11.11    No Joint Venture. Nothing contained in this Agreement creates or is intended to create an association, trust, partnership or joint venture or impose a trust or partnership duty, obligation or liability on or with regard to any Party.

    Section 11.12   Construction of Agreement. This Agreement and any documents or instruments delivered pursuant hereto shall be construed without regard to the identity of the Person who drafted the various provisions of the same. Each and every provision of this Agreement and such other documents and instruments shall be construed as though the Parties participated equally in the drafting of the same. Consequently, the Parties acknowledge and agree that any rule of construction that a document is to be construed against the drafting party shall not be applicable either to this Agreement or such other documents and instruments.

    Section 11.13    Waiver of Compliance. To the extent permitted by applicable Law, any failure to comply with any obligation, covenant, agreement or condition set forth herein or in any Ancillary Agreement, or any breach of any representation or warranty set forth herein or in any Ancillary Agreement, may be waived by the Party entitled to the benefit of such obligation, covenant, agreement, condition, representation or warranty only by a written instrument signed by such Party that expressly waives such failure or breach, but any such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any prior or subsequent failure to comply therewith or breach thereof. The waiver of any condition based on the accuracy of any representation or warranty, or on the performance of or compliance with any covenant or obligation, or the waiver of the fulfillment of any such condition, will not affect the right to indemnification or other remedy based on such representation, warranty, covenant or obligation. The failure of a Party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights.

    Section 11.14    Survival; Right to Indemnification Not Affected by Knowledge.
    1. All representations and warranties given or made by either Party in this Agreement or any certificate or other writing furnished in connection herewith, and related indemnity rights, shall survive the Closing for a period of twelve (12) months after the Closing Date and shall thereafter terminate and be of no further force or effect except that any representation or warranty, and related indemnity rights, as to which a claim (including a contingent claim) shall have been asserted during the survival period shall continue in effect with respect to such claim until such claim shall have been finally resolved or settled.
    2. The covenants and agreements of the Parties contained in Article 7 and Article 11 of this Agreement shall survive the Closing indefinitely, unless otherwise specified herein.
    3. Except as set forth in Section 5.8, the representations and warranties of the Parties set forth herein, subject to the express exceptions thereto, shall not be affected by any information furnished to, or any investigation or audit conducted before or after the Effective Date or the Closing Date by, any of the Parties or their respective representatives in connection with the Transactions, and each Party shall be entitled to rely upon the representations and warranties of the other Party set forth herein notwithstanding any investigation or audit conducted before or after the Closing Date or the decision of any Party to complete the Closing. Except as set forth in Section 5.8, the right to indemnification or other remedy based on any of the representations, warranties, covenants or obligations in this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements will not be affected by any investigation or audit conducted with respect to, or any Knowledge acquired (or capable of being ac quired) at any time, whether before or after the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Closing Date, with respect to the accuracy or inaccuracy of or compliance with, any such representation, warranty, covenant, or obligation.

    Section 11.15    Expenses. Each Party shall bear its own costs, fees and expenses (including attorneys' fees) in connection with the preparation of this Agreement.

    [signature page follows]

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives as of the date first set forth above.

     

    CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI GENERATING COMPANY, LLC
    a Delaware limited liability company

    By: R.W. Beck Plant Management, Ltd., its
    Manager

    By                                                                 
    Name: David L. Patton
    Title: Manager

     

    ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC.
    a Mississippi corporation

    By                                                                 
    Name:
    Title:

    EX-31 4 a31a.htm

    Exhibit 31(a)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, J. Wayne Leonard, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Corporation;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

       

    4.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     

     

    /s/ J. Wayne Leonard
    J. Wayne Leonard
    Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 5 a31b.htm

    Exhibit 31(b)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, Leo P. Denault, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Corporation;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

       

    4.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     

    /s/ Leo P. Denault
    Leo P. Denault
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Corporation

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 6 a31c.htm

    Exhibit 31(c)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, Hugh T. McDonald, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Arkansas, Inc.;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

       

    4.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     

    /s/ Hugh T. McDonald
    Hugh T. McDonald
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
    Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 7 a31d.htm

    Exhibit 31(d)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, Joseph F. Domino, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

       

    4.

    The registrant's other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrant's other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     

    /s/ Joseph F. Domino
    Joseph F. Domino
    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer-Texas
    of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 8 a31e.htm

    Exhibit 31(e)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, E. Renae Conley, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed these quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and Entergy Louisiana, Inc.;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, these reports do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by these reports;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in these reports, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrants as of, and for, the periods presented in these reports;

       

    4.

    The registrants' other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrants and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrants, including their consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which these reports are being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants' disclosure controls and procedures and presented in these reports our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by these reports based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in these reports any change in the registrants' internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants' most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants' internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrants' other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants' auditors and the audit committee of the registrants' board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants' ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants' internal control over financial reporting.

    /s/ E. Renae Conley
    E. Renae Conley
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
    Entergy Louisiana, Inc.; President and Chief Executive
    Officer-Louisiana of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 9 a31f.htm

    Exhibit 31(f)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, Carolyn C. Shanks, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy Mississippi, Inc.;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

       

    4.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     

    /s/ Carolyn C. Shanks
    Carolyn C. Shanks
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
    Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 10 a31g.htm

    Exhibit 31(g)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, Daniel F. Packer, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Entergy New Orleans, Inc.;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

       

    4.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     

    /s/ Daniel F. Packer
    Daniel F. Packer
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
    Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 11 a31h.htm

    Exhibit 31(h)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, Gary J. Taylor, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of System Energy Resources, Inc.;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

       

    4.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     

    /s/ Gary J. Taylor
    Gary J. Taylor
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
    System Energy Resources, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 12 a31i.htm

    Exhibit 31(i)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, Jay A. Lewis, certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed these quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., and Entergy New Orleans, Inc.;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, these reports do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by these reports;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in these reports, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrants as of, and for, the periods presented in these reports;

       

    4.

    The registrants' other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrants and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrants, including their consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which these reports are being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrants' disclosure controls and procedures and presented in these reports our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by these reports based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in these reports any change in the registrants' internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrants' most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrants' internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrants' other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrants' auditors and the audit committee of the registrants' board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrants' ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrants' internal control over financial reporting.

    /s/ Jay A. Lewis
    Jay A. Lewis
    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
    Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc.,
    Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc.,
    and Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-31 13 a31j.htm

    Exhibit 31(j)

    CERTIFICATIONS

     

    I, Theodore H. Bunting, Jr., certify that:

       

    1.

    I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of System Energy Resources, Inc.;

       

    2.

    Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

       

    3.

    Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

       

    4.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

       
     

    a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

       
     

    b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

       
     

    c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

       
     

    d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

       

    5.

    The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

       
     

    a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

       
     

    b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

     

    /s/ Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.
    Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.
    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    of System Energy Resources, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 14 a32a.htm

    Exhibit 32(a)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, J. Wayne Leonard, Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

     

     

    /s/ J. Wayne Leonard
    J. Wayne Leonard
    Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 15 a32b.htm

    Exhibit 32(b)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, Leo P. Denault, Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Corporation (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

     

     

    /s/ Leo P. Denault
    Leo P. Denault
    Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Corporation

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 16 a32c.htm

    Exhibit 32(c)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, Hugh T. McDonald, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Arkansas, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

     

     

    /s/ Hugh T. McDonald
    Hugh T. McDonald
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 17 a32d.htm

    Exhibit 32(d)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, Joseph F. Domino, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer-Texas of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

     

     

    /s/ Joseph F. Domino
    Joseph F. Domino
    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer-Texas of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

     

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 18 a32e.htm

    Exhibit 32(e)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, E. Renae Conley, President and Chief Executive Officer-Louisiana of Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Louisiana, Inc. (the "Companies"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of each of the Companies for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in each Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of each respective Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in each Report.

     

     

    /s/ E. Renae Conley
    E. Renae Conley
    President and Chief Executive Officer-Louisiana of
    Entergy Gulf States, Inc. and Chairman, President, and Chief
    Executive Officer of Entergy Louisiana, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 19 a32f.htm

    Exhibit 32(f)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

     

    I, Carolyn C. Shanks, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Mississippi, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

     

     

    /s/ Carolyn C. Shanks
    Carolyn C. Shanks
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
    Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 20 a32g.htm

    Exhibit 32(g)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, Daniel F. Packer, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy New Orleans, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

     

     

    /s/ Daniel F. Packer
    Daniel F. Packer
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
    Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 21 a32h.htm

    Exhibit 32(h)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, Gary J. Taylor, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of System Energy Resources, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

     

     

    /s/ Gary J. Taylor
    Gary J. Taylor
    Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of
    System Energy Resources, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 22 a32i.htm

    Exhibit 32(i)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, Jay A. Lewis, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., and Entergy New Orleans, Inc. (the "Companies"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of each of the Companies for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in each Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of each respective Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in each Report.

     

     

    /s/ Jay A. Lewis
    Jay A. Lewis
    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of
    Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc.,
    Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc.,
    and Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-32 23 a32j.htm

    Exhibit 32(j)

    CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
    18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
    SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

    I, Theodore H. Bunting, Jr., Chief Financial Officer of System Energy Resources, Inc. (the "Company"), certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

    (1)

    The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the quarter ended March 31, 2005 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

       

    (2)

    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods presented in the Report.

     

     

    /s/ Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.
    Theodore H. Bunting, Jr.
    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    of System Energy Resources, Inc.

    Date: May 4, 2005

    EX-99 24 a99a.htm
               Exhibit 99(a)
                 
    Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
    Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 
       
      Twelve Months Ended
      December 31, March 31,
         
      2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
                 
    Fixed charges, as defined:            
      Total Interest Charges $101,600 $109,523 $103,210 $91,221 $84,430 $86,007
      Interest applicable to rentals 16,449 14,563 12,762 15,425 13,171 11,297
                 
    Total fixed charges, as defined 118,049 124,086 115,972 106,646 97,601 97,304
                 
    Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 13,479 12,348 11,869 14,274 12,646 12,378
                 
    Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $131,528 $136,434 $127,841 $120,920 $110,247 $109,682
                 
    Earnings as defined:            
                 
    Net Income $137,047 $178,185 $135,643 $126,009 $142,210 $154,865
    Add:            
      Provision for income taxes:            
        Total 100,512 105,933 71,404 105,296 89,064 93,277
      Fixed charges as above 118,049 124,086 115,972 106,646 97,601 97,304
                 
    Total earnings, as defined $355,608 $408,204 $323,019 $337,951 $328,875 $345,446
                 
    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 3.01 3.29 2.79 3.17 3.37 3.55
                 
    Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
    preferred dividends, as defined 2.70 2.99 2.53 2.79 2.98 3.15
                 
                 
    - ------------------------            
    (a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate. 
                 
    EX-99 25 a99b.htm
              Exhibit 99(b)
                 
    Entergy Gulf States, Inc.
           
    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and 
    Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 
       
      Twelve Months Ended
      December 31, March 31,
       
      2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
                 
    Fixed charges, as defined:            
      Total Interest charges $158,949 $174,368 $144,840 $157,343 $133,598 $126,606
      Interest applicable to rentals 18,307 18,520 16,483 16,694 13,707 12,970
                 
    Total fixed charges, as defined 177,256 192,888 161,323 174,037 147,305 139,576
                 
    Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 15,742 13,017 6,190 6,845 6,991 6,623
                 
    Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $192,998 $205,905 $167,513 $180,882 $154,296 $146,199
                 
    Earnings as defined:            
                 
    Income (loss) from continuing operations before extraordinary items            
     andthe cumulative effect of accounting changes $180,343 $179,444 $174,078 $63,895 $192,264 $173,885
      Add:            
        Income Taxes 103,603 82,038 65,997 24,249 108,288 94,414
        Fixed charges as above 177,256 192,888 161,323 174,037 147,305 139,576
                 
    Total earnings, as defined (b) $461,202 $454,370 $401,398 $262,181 $447,857 $407,875
                 
    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.60 2.36 2.49 1.51 3.04 2.92
                 
    Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
    preferred dividends, as defined 2.39 2.21 2.40 1.45 2.90 2.79
                 
    (a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
                 
                 
    EX-99 26 a99c.htm
              Exhibit 99(c)
                 
    Entergy Louisiana, Inc. 
    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and 
    Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
       
      Twelve Months Ended
      December 31, March 31,
       
      2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
                 
    Fixed charges, as defined:            
      Total Interest $111,743 $116,076 $100,667 $76,756 $74,141 $77,556
      Interest applicable to rentals 6,458 7,951 6,496 6,359 5,595 5,019
                 
    Total fixed charges, as defined 118,201 124,027 $107,163 $83,115 $79,736 $82,575
                 
    Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 16,102 12,374 10,647 $11,189 $10,899 $10,696
                 
    Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $134,303 $136,401 $117,810 $94,304 $90,635 $93,271
                 
    Earnings as defined:            
                 
    Net Income $162,679 $132,550 $144,709 $146,154 $127,495 $108,055
    Add:            
      Provision for income taxes:            
    Total Taxes 112,645 86,287 84,765 97,408 79,475 67,732
      Fixed charges as above 118,201 124,027 107,163 83,115 79,736 82,575
                 
    Total earnings, as defined $393,525 $342,864 $336,637 $326,677 $286,706 $258,362
                 
    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 3.33 2.76 3.14 3.93 3.60 3.13
                 
    Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
    preferred dividends, as defined 2.93 2.51 2.86 3.46 3.16 2.77
                 
                 
    - ------------------------            
    (a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
                 
                 
    EX-99 27 a99d.htm
              Exhibit 99(d)
                 
    Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
    Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
    December 31,
       
      Twelve Months Ended
      December 31, March 31,
       
      2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
                 
    Fixed charges, as defined:            
      Total Interest $44,877 $50,991 $45,464 $47,464 $44,637 $43,759
      Interest applicable to rentals 1,596 1,849 1,916 1,880 1,162 1,308
                 
    Total fixed charges, as defined 46,473 52,840 $47,380 $49,344 $45,799 $45,067
                 
    Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 5,347 4,674 4,490 5,099 5,067 5,010
                 
    Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $51,820 $57,514 $51,870 $54,443 $50,866 $50,077
                 
    Earnings as defined:            
                 
    Net Income $38,973 $39,620 $52,408 $67,058 $73,497 $72,082
    Add:            
      Provision for income taxes:            
      Total income taxes 22,868 20,464 17,846 34,431 37,040 35,864
      Fixed charges as above 46,473 52,840 47,380 49,344 45,799 45,067
                 
    Total earnings, as defined $108,314 $112,924 $117,634 $150,833 $156,336 $153,013
                 
    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.33 2.14 2.48 3.06 3.41 3.40
                 
    Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
    preferred dividends, as defined 2.09 1.96 2.27 2.77 3.07 3.06
                 
                 
    - ------------------------            
    (a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
                 
                 
    EX-99 28 a99e.htm
              Exhibit 99(e)
                 
    Entergy New Orleans, Inc. 
    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and 
    Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends 
       
      Twelve Months Ended
      December 31, March 31,
       
      2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
                 
    Fixed charges, as defined:            
      Total Interest $15,891 $19,661  $27,950  $17,786 $16,610 $16,198
      Interest applicable to rentals 1,008 977  1,043  910 644 713
                 
    Total fixed charges, as defined 16,899 20,638  28,993  18,696 17,254 16,911
                 
    Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 1,643 2,898  2,736  1,686 1,545 1,544
                 
    Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $18,542 $23,536  $31,729  $20,382 $18,799 $18,455
                 
    Earnings as defined:            
                 
    Net Income $16,518 ($2,195) ($230) $7,859 $28,072 26,694
    Add:            
      Provision for income taxes:            
        Total 11,597 (4,396) (422) 5,875 16,868 15,985
      Fixed charges as above 16,899 20,638  28,993  18,696 17,254 16,911
                 
    Total earnings, as defined $45,014 $14,047  $28,341  $32,430 $62,194 $59,590
                 
    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.66 0.68  0.98  1.73 3.60 3.52
                 
    Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and            
    preferred dividends, as defined 2.43 0.60  0.89  1.59 3.31 3.23
                 
                 
    - ------------------------            
    (a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent (100%) minus the income tax rate.
     
    (b) For Entergy New Orleans, earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2001 were not adequate to cover fixed charges and combined fixed charges and preferred dividends by $6.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively.
     
    (c) For Entergy New Orleans, earnings for the twelve months ended December 31, 2002 were not adequate to cover combined fixed charges and preferred dividends by $0.7 million and $3.4 million, respectively.
    EX-99 29 a99f.htm
                Exhibit 99(f)
                 
    System Energy Resources, Inc. 
    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
    Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
       
      Twelve Months Ended
      December 31, March 31,
       
      2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
                 
    Fixed charges, as defined:            
      Total Interest $118,519 $138,018 $76,639 $64,620 $58,928 $56,335
      Interest applicable to rentals 5,753 4,458 3,250 3,793 3,426 3,733
                 
    Total fixed charges, as defined $124,272 $142,476 $79,889 $68,413 $62,354 $60,068
                 
    Earnings as defined:            
      Net Income $93,745 $116,355 $103,352 $106,003 $105,948 107,516
      Add:            
        Provision for income taxes:            
          Total 81,263 43,761 76,177 75,845 78,013 77,330
        Fixed charges as above 124,272 142,476 79,889 68,413 62,354 60,068
                 
    Total earnings, as defined $299,280 $302,592 $259,418 $250,261 $246,315 $244,914
                 
    Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.41 2.12 3.25 3.66 3.95 4.08
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