10-QPeriod: Q1 FY2005

ENTERGY CORP /DE/ Quarterly Report for Q1 Ended Mar 31, 2005

Filed May 4, 2005For Securities:ETR

Summary

Entergy Corporation's (ETR) May 4, 2005, 10-Q filing for the period ending March 31, 2005, indicates that management, including CEOs and CFOs of its various subsidiaries, has concluded that disclosure controls and procedures are effective. The report details ongoing regulatory matters, including FERC audits and customer proceedings, which could impact operations and finances. Notably, a lawsuit against Entergy Louisiana has been abandoned, but other proceedings, like the ExxonMobil and Cottonwood Energy Company cases at FERC, are ongoing and have set timelines for hearings or settlement discussions. Additionally, Entergy is assessing compliance strategies for new EPA rules on mercury and SO2/NOx emissions, anticipating potential capital expenditures and operating cost increases in the coming years.

Key Highlights

  • 1Disclosure controls and procedures for Entergy and its subsidiaries were deemed effective as of March 31, 2005.
  • 2A lawsuit filed against Entergy Louisiana by ratepayers has been abandoned by operation of law.
  • 3Entergy repurchased approximately 5.59 million shares of its common stock during the first quarter of 2005, with an average price of $68.38 per share, under a broader $1.5 billion repurchase program authorized through 2006.
  • 4The company is involved in FERC audits concerning wholesale sales and purchases from 1998-2001.
  • 5FERC has partially rejected ExxonMobil's claims but set others for hearing, while also directing parties to attempt settlement.
  • 6Entergy is actively opposing a proposed reactive power rate schedule from Cottonwood Energy Company and is engaged in settlement discussions.
  • 7New EPA regulations regarding mercury and SO2/NOx emissions are expected to require capital expenditures and increase operating costs for Entergy in the medium to long term.
  • 8Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends remained generally strong for most subsidiaries, with some fluctuations noted for Entergy Gulf States and Entergy New Orleans in prior periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

The lawsuit filed against Entergy Louisiana and the LPSC on behalf of Entergy Louisiana ratepayers has been abandoned by operation of law, removing this specific legal threat.

The new EPA rules for mercury and SO2/NOx emissions are expected to require significant capital expenditures between 2006 and 2009, and will lead to increased ongoing operating costs starting in 2010. Entergy is studying compliance options and the economic impact of emission markets to determine the best control alternatives.

Entergy repurchased 5,593,600 shares of its common stock for approximately $382.6 million in the first quarter of 2005. This is part of a larger $1.5 billion stock repurchase program authorized through the end of 2006, in addition to repurchases to fund employee stock options.

Yes, Entergy is involved in several key regulatory matters. These include FERC audits of past wholesale transactions, a customer proceeding initiated by ExxonMobil with the FERC where certain claims were rejected but others are set for hearing or settlement, and Entergy's opposition to a proposed reactive power rate schedule from Cottonwood Energy Company, which is also subject to settlement discussions.