2.0.0.10 false RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS 006020 - Disclosure - RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS true false false false 1 usd $ false false u000 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 u001 Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 u002 Divide http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 2 Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] 0 etr_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract etr false na duration string No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false No definition available. false 3 RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS 1 us-gaap_PublicUtilitiesDisclosureTextBlock us-gaap true na duration string No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 <div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">NOTE 2.  RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS</font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"> </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">(Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)</font></font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Regulatory Assets</font></font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries.  Following are updates to that information.</font></div><br /><div style="MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt"><div><div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div></div><div style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: always; WIDTH: 100%"><div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div><div style="WIDTH: 100%; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><hr style="COLOR: black" noshade="noshade" size="2" /></div></div><div><div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 8pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">  </font></div><div style="WIDTH: 100%" align="left"><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -1.8pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: -1.8pt" align="right"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Notes to Financial Statements</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div></div></div></div><br /><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Fuel and purchased power cost recovery</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>See Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries' "<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - </font><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">System Agreement Proceedings</font>" for updates to the discussion in the Form 10-K regarding the System Agreement proceedings.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Entergy Mississippi</font></font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>In August 2009 the MPSC retained an independent audit firm to audit Entergy Mississippi's fuel adjustment clause submittals for the period October 2007 through September 2009.  The independent audit firm submitted its report to the MPSC in December 2009.  The report does not recommend that any costs be disallowed for recovery.  The report did suggest that some costs, less than one percent of the fuel and purchased power costs recovered during the period, may have been more reasonably charged to customers through base rates rather than through fuel charges, but the report did not suggest that customers should not have paid for those costs.  In November 2009 the MPSC also retained another firm to review processes and practices related to fuel and purchased energy.  The results of that review were filed with the MPSC in March 2010.  In that report, the independent consulting firm found that the practices and procedures in activities that directly affect the costs recovered through Entergy Mississippi's fuel adjustment clause appear reasonable.  Both audit reports were certified by the MPSC to the Mississippi Legislature, as required by Mississippi law.  In March 2010, the MPSC opened a docket to consider revisions to its rules regarding recovery of fuel and energy costs and other general matters related to fuel adjustment clauses and fuel audits.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Storm Cost Recovery Filings</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Entergy Arkansas Storm Reserve Accounting</font></font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>The APSC's June 2007 order in Entergy Arkansas' base rate proceeding eliminated storm reserve accounting for Entergy Arkansas.  In March 2009 a law was enacted in Arkansas that requires the APSC to permit storm reserve accounting for utilities that request it.  Entergy Arkansas filed its request with the APSC, and has reinstated storm reserve accounting effective January 1, 2009.  A hearing on Entergy Arkansas' request was held in March 2010, and in April 2010 the ALJ approved Entergy Arkansas’s establishment of a storm cost reserve account.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"></font><br /> </div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike Filing</font></font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>As discussed in the Form 10-K, in September 2008, Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike caused catastrophic damage to Entergy's service territory.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed their Hurricane Gustav and Hurricane Ike storm cost recovery case with the LPSC in May 2009.  In September 2009, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana and the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC), an instrumentality of the State of Louisiana, filed with the LPSC an application requesting that the LPSC grant financing orders authorizing the financing of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana’s and Entergy Louisiana’s storm costs, storm reserves, and issuance costs pursuant to Act 55 of the Louisiana Regular Session of 2007 (Act 55 financings).<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">  </font>Entergy Gulf States Louisiana’s and Entergy Louisiana’s Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita storm costs were financed primarily by Act 55 financings<font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">,</font> as discussed in the Form 10-K.  Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana also filed an application requesting LPSC approval for ancillary issues including the mechanism to flow charges and Act 55 financing savings to customers via a Storm Cost Offset rider.  On December 30, 2009, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana entered into a stipulation agreement with the LPSC Staff that provides for total recoverable costs of approximately $234 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $394 million for Entergy Louisiana.  Under this stipulation, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana agrees not to recover $4.4 million and Entergy Louisiana agrees not to recover $7.2 million of their storm restoration spending.  The stipulation also permits replenishing Entergy Gulf States Louisiana's storm reserve in the amount of $90 million and Entergy Louisiana's storm reserve in the amount of $200 million when the Act 55 financings are accomplished.  In March and April 2010, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, and other parties to the proceeding filed with the LPSC an uncontested stipulated settlement that includes these terms and also includes Entergy Gulf States Louisiana’s and Entergy Louisiana's proposals under the Act 55 financings, which includes a commitment to pass on to customers a minimum of $15.5 million and $27.75 million of customer benefits, respectively, through prospective annual rate reductions of $3.1 million and $5.55 million for five years.  A stipulation hearing was held before the ALJ on April 13, 2010.  On April 21, 2010, the LPSC approved the settlement and subsequently issued two financing orders and one ratemaking order intended to facilitate the implementation of the Act 55 financings.  Louisiana State Bond Commission approval is now required before Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana proceed with the Act 55 financings.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Federal Healthcare Legislation</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) became federal law on March 23, 2010, and, on March 30, 2010, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 became federal law and amended certain provisions of the PPACA.  These new federal laws change the law governing employer-sponsored group health plans, like Entergy's plans.  All of the effects of these changes are not yet determinable because technical guidance regarding application must still be issued, and Entergy will monitor these developments.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"></font> </div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>One provision of the new law that is effective in 2013 eliminates the federal income tax deduction for prescription drug expenses of Medicare beneficiaries for which the plan sponsor also receives the retiree drug subsidy under Part D.  Entergy receives subsidy payments under the Medicare Part D plan and therefore in the first quarter 2010 recorded a reduction to the deferred tax asset related to the unfunded other postretirement benefit obligation.  The offset was recorded as a charge to income tax expense or, for the Utility, including each Registrant Subsidiary, as a regulatory asset.  The Utility has a regulatory asset of $99 million recorded for this, including $31 million at Entergy Arkansas, $16 million at Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, $19 million at Entergy Louisiana, $10 million at Entergy Mississippi, $7 million at Entergy New Orleans, $11 million at Entergy Texas, and $5 million at System Energy.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; TEXT-DECORATION: underline">Retail Rate Proceedings</font></font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies.  The following are updates to the Form 10-K.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Filings with the APSC</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>On September 4, 2009, Entergy Arkansas filed with the APSC for a general change in rates, charges, and tariffs.  Entergy Arkansas requested a $223.2 million base rate increase that would become effective in July 2010.  In testimony filed in March 2010, Entergy Arkansas lowered its requested base rate increase to $168.6 million.  The request now reflects a 10.65% return on common equity, using a projected capital structure, and proposes a formula rate plan mechanism.  Proposed formula rate plan provisions include a +/- 25 basis point bandwidth, with earnings outside the bandwidth reset to the 10.65% return on common equity midpoint and rates changing on a prospective basis depending on whether Entergy Arkansas is over or under-earning.  The proposed formula rate plan also includes a recovery mechanism for APSC-approved costs for additional capacity purchases or construction/acquisition of new transmission or generating facilities.  Entergy Arkansas also lowered its requested annual storm damage accrual to $13.8 million.  The latest APSC Staff position filed in testimony proposes a $49 million revenue increase reflecting a 10.1% return on common equity and $10 million for the 2009 ice storm.  In the event a formula rate plan is adopted, the APSC Staff recommends a further return on common equity reduction to 9.6%.  The APSC scheduled hearings in the proceeding beginning in May 2010.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="left"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Filings with the LPSC</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">(Entergy Louisiana)</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>See the Form 10-K for a discussion of Entergy Louisiana’s formula rate plan that the LPSC approved for the 2008, 2009, and 2010 test years.  Entergy Louisiana, effective with the November 2009 billing cycle, reset its rates to achieve a 10.25% return on equity for the 2008 test year.  The rate reset, a $2.5 million increase that includes a $16.3 million cost of service adjustment less a $13.8 million net reduction for decreased capacity costs and a base rate reclassification, was implemented for the November 2009 billing cycle, and the rate reset was subject to refund pending review of the 2008 test year filing that was made in October 2009.  In April 2010, Entergy Louisiana and the LPSC staff submitted a joint report on the 2008 test year filing and requested that the LPSC accept the report, which will result in a $0.1 million reduction in current rates effective in the May 2010 billing cycle and a $0.1 million refund.  In addition, Entergy Louisiana will move the recovery of approximately $12.5 million of capacity costs from fuel adjustment clause recovery to base rate recovery.  At its April 21, 2010 meeting, the LPSC accepted the joint report.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman">Filings with the MPSC</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>In September 2009, Entergy Mississippi filed with the MPSC proposed modifications to its formula rate plan rider.  In March 2010 the MPSC issued an order: (1) providing the opportunity for a reset of Entergy Mississippi's return on common equity to a point within the formula rate plan bandwidth and eliminating the 50/50 sharing that had been in the plan, (2) modifying the performance measurement process, and (3) replacing the revenue change limit of two percent of revenues, which was subject to a $14.5 million revenue adjustment cap, with a limit of four percent of revenues, although any adjustment above two percent requires a hearing before the MPSC.  The MPSC did not approve Entergy Mississippi's request to use a projected test year for its annual scheduled formula rate plan filing and, therefore, Entergy Mississippi will continue to use a historical test year for its annual evaluation reports under the plan.</font></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt"><br /></div><div style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN-LEFT: 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0pt; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0pt" align="justify"><font style="DISPLAY: inline; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Times New Roman"><font style="MARGIN-LEFT: 36pt"></font>On March 15, 2010, Entergy Mississippi submitted its 2009 test year filing, its first annual filing under the new formula rate plan rider.  The filing requests an $11.8 million revenue increase to reset Entergy Mississippi's return on common equity to 11.74%, which is a point within the formula rate plan bandwidth.  The formula rate plan calls for new rates to be implemented in June 2010.  The Mississippi Public Utilities Staff has informed Entergy Mississippi by letter that, based upon the information the Staff has reviewed to date, the Staff has identified certain possible adjustments for consideration and that the Staff's review of the filing is ongoing.</font></div> NOTE 2.  RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy false false false This element can be used to encapsulate the entire disclosure for public utilities (including data and tables). 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