Retirement, Other Postretirement Benefits, And Defined Contribution Plans (Notes)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Retirement Benefits [Text Block]

RETIREMENT, OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy has defined benefit qualified pension plans, including the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III (Plan III), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Bargaining Employees, and the Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Cash Balance Plan).  The Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan) was merged with and into Non-Bargaining Plan I effective January 1, 2022. Effective January 1, 2024, Non-Bargaining Plan I was amended to spin-off predominately inactive participants into a new qualified pension plan, Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan VI for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan VI). The Registrant Subsidiaries participate in these plans: Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Plan III, Non-Bargaining Plan VI, and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire was prior to June 30, 2014 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) participate in a noncontributory final average pay formula that provides pension benefits based on the employee’s credited service and compensation during employment. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire is after June 30, 2014 and before January 1, 2021 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) do not participate in a final average pay formula, but instead participate in a cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2021, the Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan were amended to close participation in each plan to those employees whose most recent hire date is after December 31, 2020 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement). Employees hired after this date instead may be eligible to participate in and receive a discretionary employer contribution under an Entergy sponsored tax-qualified defined contribution plan that includes a 401(k) feature.

The assets of the defined benefit qualified pension plans are held in a master trust established by Entergy. Each pension plan has an undivided beneficial interest in each of the investment accounts in the master trust that is maintained by a trustee.  Use of the master trust permits the commingling of the trust assets of the pension plans of Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets in the master trust are commingled, the trustee maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the trust level equity in net earnings (loss) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts in the trust to the various participating pension plans in the trust.  The fair value of the trust’s assets is determined by the trustee and certain investment managers.  The trustee calculates a daily earnings factor, including realized and unrealized gains or losses, collected and accrued income, and administrative expenses, and allocates earnings to each plan in the master trust on a pro rata basis.

Within each pension plan, the record of each Registrant Subsidiary’s beneficial interest in the plan assets is maintained by the plan’s actuary and is updated quarterly.  Assets for each Registrant Subsidiary are increased for investment net income and contributions and are decreased for benefit payments.  A plan’s investment net income/loss (i.e., interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses) is allocated to the Registrant Subsidiaries participating in that plan based on the value of assets for each Registrant Subsidiary at the beginning of the quarter adjusted for contributions and benefit payments made during the quarter.

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries fund pension plans in an amount not less than the minimum required contribution under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The assets of the plans include common and preferred stocks, fixed-income securities, interest in a money market fund, and insurance contracts.  The Registrant Subsidiaries’ pension costs are recovered from customers as a component of cost of service in each of their respective jurisdictions.

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$101,182	$138,085	$165,278
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	298,281	235,805	191,107
Expected return on assets	(388,030)	(402,504)	(424,572)
Recognized net loss	81,919	188,683	334,124
Settlement charges	160,387	230,389	205,878
Net pension cost	$253,739	$390,458	$471,815
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	($213,636)	$6,113	($448,532)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(81,919)	(188,683)	(334,124)
Settlement charge	(160,387)	(230,389)	(205,878)
Total	($455,942)	($412,959)	($988,534)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($202,203)	($22,501)	($516,719)

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$18,461	$24,716	$5,775	$1,955	$4,328	$5,749
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Expected return on assets	(70,574)	(75,757)	(19,423)	(8,798)	(16,641)	(17,585)
Recognized net loss	19,400	19,797	5,719	1,694	4,075	4,236
Settlement charges	26,137	40,437	12,242	2,080	11,230	6,375
Net pension cost	$49,450	$69,539	$19,715	$3,678	$15,718	$12,627
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($30,674)	($71,016)	($20,220)	($3,183)	($16,759)	($3,268)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(19,400)	(19,797)	(5,719)	(1,694)	(4,075)	(4,236)
Settlement charge	(26,137)	(40,437)	(12,242)	(2,080)	(11,230)	(6,375)
Total	($76,211)	($131,250)	($38,181)	($6,957)	($32,064)	($13,879)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($26,761)	($61,711)	($18,466)	($3,279)	($16,346)	($1,252)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$25,210	$33,520	$8,043	$2,745	$5,999	$7,746
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Expected return on assets	(75,820)	(82,478)	(20,168)	(9,920)	(18,317)	(18,173)
Recognized net loss	43,597	41,711	12,594	4,787	9,013	10,938
Settlement charges	36,409	58,550	15,786	6,676	22,411	9,905
Net pension cost	$74,774	$100,633	$29,234	$9,779	$29,835	$21,702
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	$28,365	($15,604)	($4,743)	$525	$13,363	($7,063)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(43,597)	(41,711)	(12,594)	(4,787)	(9,013)	(10,938)
Settlement charge	(36,409)	(58,550)	(15,786)	(6,676)	(22,411)	(9,905)
Total	($51,641)	($115,865)	($33,123)	($10,938)	($18,061)	($27,906)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$23,133	($15,232)	($3,889)	($1,159)	$11,774	($6,204)

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$28,632	$38,271	$9,070	$3,038	$6,921	$8,851
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	35,683	39,740	10,446	4,392	8,381	9,087
Expected return on assets	(78,368)	(89,821)	(22,407)	(10,598)	(21,158)	(19,254)
Recognized net loss	69,290	67,015	20,007	7,596	12,676	18,404
Settlement charges	37,682	61,945	16,710	5,431	11,797	12,260
Net pension cost	$92,919	$117,150	$33,826	$9,859	$18,617	$29,348
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($96,066)	($89,534)	($29,675)	($16,159)	($18,217)	($27,617)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(69,290)	(67,015)	(20,007)	(7,596)	(12,676)	(18,404)
Settlement charge	(37,682)	(61,945)	(16,710)	(5,431)	(11,797)	(12,260)
Total	($203,038)	($218,494)	($66,392)	($29,186)	($42,690)	($58,281)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($110,119)	($101,344)	($32,566)	($19,327)	($24,073)	($28,933)

Qualified Pension Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$6,166,106	$8,409,620
Service cost	101,182	138,085
Interest cost	298,281	235,805
Actuarial (gain)/loss	123,237	(1,660,463)
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Balance at December 31	$5,915,404	$6,166,106
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$5,242,098	$6,993,110
Actual return on plan assets	724,903	(1,264,071)
Employer contributions	267,002	470,000
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$5,460,601	$5,242,098
Funded status	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset
Net loss	$1,447,978	$1,842,348
Amount recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$347,268	$408,839

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets for the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Service cost	18,461	24,716	5,775	1,955	4,328	5,749
Interest cost	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Actuarial (gain)/loss	39,643	1,925	(328)	4,590	(1,416)	14,522
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Balance at December 31	$1,117,585	$1,173,283	$295,942	$133,950	$239,984	$286,558
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Actual return on plan assets	140,891	148,698	39,315	16,571	31,984	35,375
Employer contributions	54,468	44,565	21,110	1,420	5,314	15,543
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$991,894	$1,058,711	$280,260	$117,923	$222,496	$255,443
Funded status	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$485,113	$319,116	$102,208	$44,911	$63,665	$111,996
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$13,296	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($68.7) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($103.1) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($31.4) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($5.3) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($29.4) million at Entergy Texas, and ($16.7) million at System Energy.

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,579,346	$1,736,396	$448,858	$195,380	$371,802	$394,794
Service cost	25,210	33,520	8,043	2,745	5,999	7,746
Interest cost	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Actuarial gain	(280,691)	(357,572)	(88,303)	(40,462)	(65,795)	(81,504)
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Balance at December 31	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$1,302,588	$1,446,658	$356,424	$172,366	$341,915	$312,060
Actual return on plan assets	(233,236)	(259,490)	(63,392)	(31,067)	(60,841)	(56,267)
Employer contributions	92,971	53,658	33,287	1,129	2,513	28,619
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Funded status	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$561,323	$445,116	$140,389	$51,868	$95,729	$125,876
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$18,546	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($96) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($146.6) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($48) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($16.2) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($48.9) million at Entergy Texas, and ($23.5) million at System Energy.

The qualified pension plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to asset gains resulting from an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The qualified pension plans incurred a small net actuarial loss during 2022 primarily due to asset losses resulting from an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets, substantially offset by liability gains due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations.

Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation

The accumulated benefit obligation for Entergy’s qualified pension plans was $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The qualified pension accumulated benefit obligation for each of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Entergy Arkansas	$1,048,901	$1,008,152
Entergy Louisiana	$1,085,318	$1,146,561
Entergy Mississippi	$273,338	$292,596
Entergy New Orleans	$125,878	$128,499
Entergy Texas	$225,379	$245,428
System Energy	$267,432	$269,583

Other Postretirement Benefits

Entergy also currently offers retiree medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits (other postretirement benefits) for eligible retired employees.  Employees who commenced employment before July 1, 2014 and who satisfy certain eligibility requirements (including retiring from Entergy after a certain age and/or years of service with Entergy and immediately commencing their Entergy pension benefit), may become eligible for other postretirement benefits.

In March 2020, Entergy announced changes to its other postretirement benefits. Effective January 1, 2021, certain retired, former non-bargaining employees age 65 and older who are eligible for Entergy-sponsored retiree welfare benefits, and their eligible spouses who are age 65 and older (collectively, Medicare-eligible participants), are eligible to participate in an Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, and are no longer eligible for retiree coverage under the Entergy Corporation Companies’ Benefits Plus Medical, Dental and Vision Plans. Under the Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, Medicare-eligible participants are eligible to participate in a health reimbursement arrangement which they may use towards the purchase of various types of qualified insurance offered through a Medicare exchange provider and for other qualified medical expenses. The changes affecting active bargaining unit employees were negotiated with the unions prior to implementation, where necessary, and to the extent required by law.

Effective January 1, 1993, Entergy adopted an accounting standard requiring a change from a cash method to an accrual method of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas have received regulatory approval to recover accrued other postretirement benefits costs through rates.  The LPSC ordered Entergy Louisiana to continue the use of the pay-as-you-go method for ratemaking purposes for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  However, the LPSC retains the flexibility to examine individual companies’ accounting for other postretirement benefits to determine if special exceptions to this order are warranted. Pursuant to regulatory directives, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy contribute the other postretirement benefits costs collected in rates into external trusts.  System Energy is funding, on behalf of Entergy Operations, other postretirement benefits associated with employees who work or worked at Grand Gulf.

Trust assets contributed by participating Registrant Subsidiaries are in master trusts, established by Entergy Corporation and maintained by a trustee.  Each participating Registrant Subsidiary holds a beneficial interest in the trusts’ assets.  The assets in the master trusts are commingled for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets are commingled, supporting records are maintained for the purpose of allocating the beneficial interest in net earnings/(losses) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts to the various participating plans and participating Registrant Subsidiaries. Beneficial interest in an investment account’s net income/(loss) is comprised of interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and expenses.  Beneficial interest from these

investments is allocated to the plans and participating Registrant Subsidiary based on their portion of net assets in the pooled accounts.

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefits Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or AOCI

Entergy Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs, including amounts capitalized and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$14,654	$24,734	$26,578
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefits obligation (APBO)	42,272	27,306	21,278
Expected return on assets	(36,732)	(43,420)	(43,220)
Amortization of prior service credit	(22,558)	(25,550)	(33,069)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	(11,446)	4,333	2,853
Net other postretirement benefits income	($13,810)	($12,597)	($25,580)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	($4,434)	($858)	($3,168)
Net (gain)/loss	(44,441)	(131,524)	6,210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	22,558	25,550	33,069
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	11,446	(4,333)	(2,853)
Total	($14,871)	($111,165)	$33,258
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($28,681)	($123,762)	$7,678

Total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs of the Registrant Subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized and deferred, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$2,965	$3,379	$878	$235	$809	$754
Interest cost on APBO	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Expected return on assets	(15,113)	—	(4,716)	(5,263)	(8,776)	(2,535)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,096	(3,804)	(955)	(916)	(4,371)	(293)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	171	(7,057)	85	466	914	—
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($1,879)	$1,449	($2,538)	($4,318)	($8,827)	($348)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	$—	($4,434)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	(23,033)	(458)	(6,883)	(7,606)	(8,790)	(3,942)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(2,096)	3,804	955	916	4,371	293
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(171)	7,057	(85)	(466)	(914)	—
Total	($25,300)	$5,969	($6,013)	($7,156)	($5,333)	($3,649)
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($27,179)	$7,418	($8,551)	($11,474)	($14,160)	($3,997)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,457	$5,633	$1,354	$397	$1,322	$1,239
Interest cost on APBO	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Expected return on assets	(17,930)	—	(5,575)	(5,997)	(10,273)	(3,162)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,885	(4,630)	(1,772)	(916)	(4,371)	(319)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	873	(744)	222	(898)	648	121
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($5,665)	$6,029	($4,370)	($6,720)	($11,078)	($1,005)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	$273	$323	($1,300)	$—	$—	$141
Net (gain)/loss	12,894	(65,501)	6,629	17,334	22,323	1,208
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(1,885)	4,630	1,772	916	4,371	319
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(873)	744	(222)	898	(648)	(121)
Total	$10,409	($59,804)	$6,879	$19,148	$26,046	$1,547
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$4,744	($53,775)	$2,509	$12,428	$14,968	$542

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,135	$6,174	$1,448	$437	$1,384	$1,340
Interest cost on APBO	3,726	4,520	1,110	521	1,269	878
Expected return on assets	(18,020)	—	(5,536)	(5,750)	(10,192)	(3,156)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,121)	(4,920)	(1,775)	(916)	(3,742)	(436)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	196	(364)	76	(712)	398	61
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($11,084)	$5,410	($4,677)	($6,420)	($10,883)	($1,313)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	($85)	$357	$—	$—	($3,776)	$69
Net (gain)/loss	9,956	(2,367)	(2,823)	(3,330)	939	210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	1,121	4,920	1,775	916	3,742	436
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(196)	364	(76)	712	(398)	(61)
Total	$10,796	$3,274	($1,124)	($1,702)	$507	$654
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($288)	$8,684	($5,801)	($8,122)	($10,376)	($659)

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Not Yet Recognized and Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$865,854	$1,189,682
Service cost	14,654	24,734
Interest cost	42,272	27,306
Plan amendments	(4,434)	(858)
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Actuarial gain	(4,303)	(297,128)
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	280	264
Balance at December 31	$837,644	$865,854
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$623,824	$771,319
Actual return on plan assets	76,870	(122,184)
Employer contributions	49,126	52,835
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$673,141	$623,824
Funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	($45,706)	($42,484)
Non-current liabilities	(118,797)	(199,546)
Total funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset
Prior service credit	($21,465)	($29,323)
Net (gain)/loss	(33,617)	16,956
	($55,082)	($12,367)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	($34,899)	($45,167)
Net gain	(116,078)	(133,656)
	($150,977)	($178,823)

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Balance Sheets of the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Service cost	2,965	3,379	878	235	809	754
Interest cost	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Plan amendments	—	(4,434)	—	—	—	—
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(6,403)	(458)	(1,650)	(1,676)	337	(1,075)
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	33	46	10	5	11	13
Balance at December 31	$155,987	$170,139	$41,344	$21,685	$51,617	$33,778
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Actual return on plan assets	31,743	—	9,949	11,193	17,903	5,402
Employer contributions	582	20,451	646	213	235	480
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$274,814	$—	$85,662	$100,536	$161,318	$45,402
Funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,049)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	118,827	(155,090)	44,318	78,851	109,701	11,624
Total funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$4,983	$—	($2,682)	($1,982)	($11,790)	($496)
Net loss/(gain)	(17,980)	—	(4,815)	(5,843)	14,542	112
	($12,997)	$—	($7,497)	($7,825)	$2,752	($384)
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,645)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(75,709)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($88,354)	$—	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$221,183	$253,031	$61,001	$31,866	$71,961	$47,875
Service cost	4,457	5,633	1,354	397	1,322	1,239
Interest cost	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Plan amendments	273	323	(1,300)	—	—	141
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Actuarial gain	(54,923)	(65,501)	(14,465)	(6,867)	(16,291)	(10,679)
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	42	57	6	7	16	17
Balance at December 31	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$315,495	$—	$97,888	$111,137	$182,285	$54,650
Actual return on plan assets	(49,887)	—	(15,519)	(18,204)	(28,341)	(8,725)
Employer contributions	1,573	16,187	759	333	(23)	944
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,356)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	91,099	(167,770)	35,131	67,169	95,317	7,160
Total funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$7,079	$—	($3,637)	($2,898)	($16,161)	($789)
Net loss	5,224	—	2,153	2,229	24,246	4,054
	$12,303	$—	($1,484)	($669)	$8,085	$3,265
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,015)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(82,308)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($94,323)	$—	$—	$—	$—

The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to updated demographic assumptions and census data coupled with an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, partially offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by asset losses due to an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets during 2022.

Non-Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy also sponsors non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  Entergy recognized net periodic pension cost related to these plans of $43.8 million in 2023, $30.9 million in 2022, and $28.6 million in 2021.  In 2023, 2022, and 2021, Entergy recognized $27.9 million, $12.2 million, and $10.9 million, respectively, in settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan that is included in the non-qualified pension plan cost above.

The projected benefit obligation was $88.6 million as of December 31, 2023 of which $13.8 million was a current liability and $74.8 million was a non-current liability. The projected benefit obligation was $152.4 million as of December 31, 2022 of which $62.4 million was a current liability and $90 million was a non-current liability.  The accumulated benefit obligation was $77.9 million and $140 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unamortized prior service cost and net loss are recognized in regulatory assets ($29.7 million at December 31, 2023 and $56.8 million at December 31, 2022) and accumulated other comprehensive income before taxes ($3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $8.7 million at December 31, 2022).

A Rabbi Trust was established for the benefit of certain participants in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans. The Rabbi Trust assets were invested in money-market funds which were recorded at fair value with all gains and losses recognized immediately in income. All of the investments were classified as Level 1 investments for purposes of Fair Value Measurements. At December 31, 2022, the fair value of the assets held in the Rabbi Trust was $35 million. In August 2023 the Rabbi Trust assets were used to pay benefits due under the non-qualified pension plans.

The following Registrant Subsidiaries participate in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  The net periodic pension cost for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans for 2023, 2022, and 2021, was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$637	$99	$808	$132	$253
2022	$282	$102	$321	$114	$1,320
2021	$343	$307	$365	$30	$615

Included in the 2023 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $379 thousand and $453 thousand for Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2022 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $1 thousand, $2 thousand, and $1 million for Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2021 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $155 thousand and $172 thousand for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan.

The projected benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$2,313	$2,574	$3,369	$1,034	$3,762
2022	$2,433	$1,197	$3,830	$1,024	$3,850

The accumulated benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$1,935	$2,494	$3,187	$814	$3,701
2022	$2,192	$1,197	$3,594	$719	$3,776

The following amounts were recorded on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($276)	($308)	($474)	($106)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,037)	(2,266)	(2,895)	(928)	(3,314)
Total funded status	($2,313)	($2,574)	($3,369)	($1,034)	($3,762)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$857	$1,604	$1,303	$5	($2,526)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$67	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($234)	($184)	($214)	($32)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,199)	(1,013)	(3,616)	(992)	(3,402)
Total funded status	($2,433)	($1,197)	($3,830)	($1,024)	($3,850)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$512	$119	$1,291	$111	($2,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$5	$—	$—	$—

The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial loss during 2023 primarily as a result of liability losses due to differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions. The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial gain during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions.

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2023:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$14,038	($452)	$13,586
Amortization of gain (loss)	(4,407)	11,590	(593)	6,590
Settlement loss	(7,844)	—	(3,004)	(10,848)
	($12,251)	$25,628	($4,049)	$9,328
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$3,804	$—	$3,804
Amortization of gain (loss)	(792)	7,057	(2)	6,263
Settlement loss	(1,617)	—	—	(1,617)
	($2,409)	$10,861	($2)	$8,450

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2022:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$16,052	($715)	$15,337
Amortization of loss	(30,147)	(2,381)	(1,331)	(33,859)
Settlement loss	(23,636)	—	(1,685)	(25,321)
	($53,783)	$13,671	($3,731)	($43,843)
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$4,630	$—	$4,630
Amortization of gain (loss)	(1,669)	744	(2)	(927)
Settlement loss	(2,342)	—	—	(2,342)
	($4,011)	$5,374	($2)	$1,361

Accounting for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Accounting standards require an employer to recognize in its balance sheet the funded status of its benefit plans.  This is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation.  Entergy uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement plans.  Employers are to record previously unrecognized gains and losses, prior service costs, and any remaining transition asset or obligation (that resulted from adopting prior pension and other postretirement benefits accounting standards) as comprehensive income and/or as a regulatory asset reflective of the recovery mechanism for pension and other postretirement benefits costs in the Registrant Subsidiaries’ respective regulatory jurisdictions.  For the portion of Entergy Louisiana that is not regulated, the unrecognized prior service cost, gains and losses, and transition asset/obligation for its pension and other postretirement benefits obligations are recorded as other comprehensive income.  Entergy Louisiana recovers other postretirement benefits costs on a pay-as-you-go basis and records the unrecognized prior

service cost, gains and losses, and transition obligation for its other postretirement benefits obligation as other comprehensive income.  Accounting standards also require that changes in the funded status be recorded as other comprehensive income and/or a regulatory asset in the period in which the changes occur.

With regard to pension and other postretirement costs, Entergy calculates the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets by multiplying the long-term expected rate of return on assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets.  Entergy determines the MRV of its pension plan assets, except for the long duration fixed income assets, by calculating a value that uses a 20-quarter phase-in of the difference between actual and expected returns. For the long duration fixed income assets in the pension trust and for its other postretirement benefits plan assets Entergy uses fair value as the MRV.

In accordance with ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”, the other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations and are presented by Entergy in miscellaneous - net in other income.

Qualified Pension Settlement Cost

Year-to-date lump sum benefit payments from Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Non-Bargaining Plan II, and Bargaining Plan II exceeded the sum of the Plans’ service and interest cost, resulting in settlement costs during 2023, 2022, and 2021. In accordance with accounting standards, settlement accounting requires immediate recognition of the portion of previously unrecognized losses associated with the settled portion of the plans’ pension liability. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy participate in one or both of Non-Bargaining Plan I and Bargaining Plan I and incurred settlement costs. Similar to other pension costs, the settlement costs were included with employee labor costs and charged to expense and capital in the same manner that labor costs were charged. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans received regulatory approval to defer the expense portion of settlement costs, with future amortization of the deferred settlement expense over the period in which the expense otherwise would be recorded had the immediate recognition not occurred.

Entergy Texas Reserve

In September 2020, Entergy Texas elected to establish a reserve, in accordance with PUCT regulations, to track the surplus or deficit in the annual amount of actuarially determined pension and other postretirement benefits chargeable to Entergy Texas’s expense. The reserve amounts recorded for 2020 and 2021 were included in the base rate case that was filed with the PUCT in July 2022, and amortization of that amount began in 2023 when interim rates became effective. The reserve amounts recorded for 2022 and through December 2023 will be evaluated in the next rate case filed by Entergy Texas, and an amortization period will be determined at that time. At December 31, 2023, the balance in this reserve was approximately $32.7 million.

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Plans’ Assets

The Plan Administrator’s trust asset investment strategy is to invest the assets in a manner whereby long-term earnings on the assets (plus cash contributions) provide adequate funding for retiree benefit payments.  The mix of assets is based on an optimization study that identifies asset allocation targets in order to achieve the maximum return for an acceptable level of risk, while minimizing the expected contributions and pension and postretirement expense.

In the optimization studies, the Plan Administrator formulates assumptions about characteristics, such as expected asset class investment returns, volatility (risk), and correlation coefficients among the various asset classes.  The future market assumptions used in the optimization study are determined by examining historical

market characteristics of the various asset classes and making adjustments to reflect future conditions expected to prevail over the study period.

The target asset allocation for pension adjusts dynamically based on the funded status of each plan within the trust. The current targets are shown below. The expectation is that the allocation to fixed income securities will increase as the pension plans’ funded status increases.  The following ranges were established to produce an acceptable, economically efficient plan to manage around the targets.

For postretirement assets the target and range asset allocations (as shown below) reflect recommendations made in the latest optimization study. The target asset allocations for postretirement assets adjust dynamically based on the funded status of each sub-account within each trust. The current weighted-average targets shown below represent the aggregate of all targets for all sub-accounts within all trusts.

Entergy’s qualified pension and postretirement weighted-average asset allocations by asset category at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the target asset allocation and ranges for 2023 are as follows:

Pension Asset Allocation	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	32%	26%	to	38%	33%	42%
International Equity Securities	17%	14%	to	20%	18%	22%
Intermediate Fixed Income Securities	8%	7%	to	9%	9%	11%
Long Duration Fixed Income Securities	43%	39%	to	47%	40%	22%
Other	—%	—%	to	10%	—%	3%

Postretirement Asset Allocation	Non-Taxable and Taxable
	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	25%	20%	to	30%	28%	25%
International Equity Securities	17%	12%	to	22%	17%	18%
Fixed Income Securities	58%	53%	to	63%	55%	57%
Other	—%	—%	to	5%	—%	—%

In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used in the calculation of benefit plan costs, Entergy reviews past performance, current and expected future asset allocations, and capital market assumptions of its investment consultant and some investment managers.

The expected long-term rate of return for the qualified pension plans’ assets is based primarily on the geometric average of the historical annual performance of a representative portfolio weighted by the target asset allocation defined in the table above, along with other indications of expected return on assets. The time period reflected is a long-dated period spanning several decades.

The expected long-term rate of return for the non-taxable postretirement trust assets is determined using the same methodology described above for pension assets, but the aggregate asset allocation specific to the non-taxable postretirement assets is used.

For the taxable postretirement trust assets, the investment allocation includes tax-exempt fixed income securities.  This asset allocation, in combination with the same methodology employed to determine the expected return for other postretirement assets (as described above), and with a modification to reflect applicable taxes, is used to produce the expected long-term rate of return for taxable postretirement trust assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Entergy’s investment guidelines mandate the avoidance of risk concentrations.  Types of concentrations specified to be avoided include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country, geographic area, and individual security issuance.  As of December 31, 2023, all investment managers and assets were materially in compliance with the approved investment guidelines, therefore there were no significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10 percent of plan assets) of credit risk in Entergy’s pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards provide the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access at the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

•Level 2 - Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are, either directly or indirectly, observable for the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Assets are valued based on prices derived by an independent party that uses inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, and issuer spreads.  Prices are reviewed and can be challenged with the independent parties and/or overridden if it is believed such would be more reflective of fair value.  Level 2 inputs include the following:

-     quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

-     quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

-     inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or

-    inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If an asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•Level 3 - Level 3 refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, a summary of the investments held in the master trusts for Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement plans in which the Registrant Subsidiaries participate.

Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$10,827	(b)	$—		$—	$10,827
Common	715,452	(b)	—		—	715,452
Common collective trusts (c)						2,066,247
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		1,085,231	(a)	—	1,085,231
Corporate debt instruments	—		924,904	(a)	—	924,904
Registered investment companies (e)	34,364	(d)	2,718	(d)	—	657,691
Other	774	(f)	78,883	(f)	—	79,657
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,899	(g)	—	5,899
Total investments	$761,417		$2,097,635		$—	$5,545,908
Cash						1,488
Other pending transactions						(22,404)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(64,391)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,460,601

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$12,178	(b)	$—		$—	$12,178
Common	807,437	(b)	—		—	807,437
Common collective trusts (c)						2,516,688
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		673,348	(a)	—	673,348
Corporate debt instruments	—		525,184	(a)	—	525,184
Registered investment companies (e)	221,582	(d)	2,595	(d)	—	750,454
Other	—		15,395	(f)	—	15,395
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,911	(g)	—	5,911
Total investments	$1,041,197		$1,222,433		$—	$5,306,595
Cash						10,601
Other pending transactions						(13,813)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(61,285)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,242,098

Other Postretirement Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$276,560
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$80,219	(b)	$84,521	(a)	$—	164,740
Corporate debt instruments	—		106,523	(a)	—	106,523
Registered investment companies	548	(d)	—		—	548
Other	—		57,511	(f)	—	57,511
Total investments	$80,767		$248,555		$—	$605,882
Other pending transactions						2,868
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						64,391
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$673,141

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$241,676
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$69,503	(b)	$78,436	(a)	$—	147,939
Corporate debt instruments	—		113,273	(a)	—	113,273
Registered investment companies	3,016	(d)	—		—	3,016
Other	—		56,149	(f)	—	56,149
Total investments	$72,519		$247,858		$—	$562,053
Other pending transactions						486
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						61,285
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$623,824

(a)Certain fixed income debt securities (corporate, government, and securitized) are stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(b)Common stocks, preferred stocks, and certain fixed income debt securities (government) are stated at fair value determined by quoted market prices.

(c)The common collective trusts hold investments in accordance with stated objectives.  The investment strategy of the trusts is to capture the growth potential of equity markets by replicating the performance of a specified index.  The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Net asset value per share of common collective trusts estimate fair value. Common collective trusts are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(d)Registered investment companies are money market mutual funds with a stable net asset value of one dollar per share. Registered investment companies may hold investments in domestic and international bond markets or domestic equities valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The money market mutual funds held by the trusts are deemed to be actively traded. Certain registered investment companies are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.

(e)Certain of these registered investment companies are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(f)The other remaining assets are U.S. municipal and foreign government bonds stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(g)The unallocated insurance contract investments are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.  The contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest, less funds used to pay benefits and contract expenses, and less distributions to the master trust.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Based upon the assumptions used to measure Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement benefits obligations at December 31, 2023, and including pension and other postretirement benefits attributable to estimated future employee service, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries will be as follows:

	Estimated Future Benefits Payments
	Qualified Pension	Non-Qualified Pension	Other Postretirement
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$463,557	$13,802	$74,649
2025	$449,803	$10,894	$70,720
2026	$450,945	$8,507	$67,105
2027	$449,510	$14,374	$63,949
2028	$450,827	$9,325	$61,234
2029 - 2033	$2,222,959	$36,584	$283,477

Based upon the same assumptions, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees will be as follows:

Estimated Future Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$90,682	$95,706	$25,534	$11,300	$21,807	$24,163
2025	$89,113	$92,420	$24,816	$10,799	$21,019	$22,053
2026	$88,427	$92,499	$25,210	$10,910	$21,268	$21,612
2027	$87,845	$91,485	$24,686	$10,566	$20,407	$22,665
2028	$87,719	$91,450	$24,147	$10,458	$20,074	$22,107
2029 - 2033	$429,882	$444,131	$115,629	$48,870	$92,182	$109,712

Estimated Future Non-Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$276	$308	$474	$106	$448
2025	$474	$301	$547	$143	$423
2026	$160	$288	$461	$139	$445
2027	$149	$265	$642	$224	$395
2028	$288	$270	$395	$141	$369
2029 - 2033	$938	$941	$1,326	$529	$1,524

Estimated Future Other Postretirement Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$13,697	$15,049	$3,521	$2,200	$5,187	$2,811
2025	$12,913	$14,380	$3,386	$2,086	$4,874	$2,668
2026	$12,342	$13,676	$3,256	$1,942	$4,436	$2,434
2027	$11,767	$13,037	$3,126	$1,785	$4,215	$2,320
2028	$11,424	$12,348	$3,121	$1,640	$3,937	$2,266
2029 - 2033	$54,789	$57,264	$14,563	$7,297	$17,857	$11,270

Contributions

Entergy currently expects to contribute approximately $270 million to its qualified pension plans and approximately $45.9 million to other postretirement plans in 2024.  The expected 2024 pension and other postretirement plan contributions of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their employees are shown below.  The 2024 required pension contributions will be known with more certainty when the January 1, 2024 valuations are completed, which is expected by April 1, 2024.

The Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute approximately the following to the qualified pension and other postretirement plans for their current and former employees in 2024:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Pension Contributions	$55,112	$48,401	$14,980	$4,931	$8,272	$16,650
Other Postretirement Contributions	$529	$15,049	$178	$205	$156	$34

Actuarial Assumptions

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the pension PBO and the other postretirement benefits APBO as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	2023	2022
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension	5.02% - 5.10% Blended 5.06%	5.21% - 5.27% Blended 5.24%
Other postretirement	5.01%	5.20%
Non-qualified pension	4.68%	4.98%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Interest crediting rate	4.00%	4.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.95%	6.65%
Post-65	7.88%	7.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032
Post-65	2032	2032

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension and other postretirement benefits costs for 2023, 2022, and 2021 were as follows:

	2023	2022	2021
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension:
Service cost	5.26%	3.07%	2.81%
Interest cost	5.16%	2.49%	2.08%
Other postretirement:
Service cost	5.00%	3.20%	2.98%
Interest cost	5.09%	2.31%	1.86%
Non-qualified pension:
Service cost	5.31%	4.94%	1.48%
Interest cost	5.30%	5.03%	2.14%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets:
Pension assets	7.00%	6.75%	6.75%
Other postretirement non-taxable assets	6.00% - 7.00%	5.75% - 6.75%	6.00% - 6.75%
Other postretirement taxable assets	5.25%	4.75%	5.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.65%	5.65%	5.87%
Post-65	7.50%	5.90%	6.31%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032	2030
Post-65	2032	2032	2028

With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 other postretirement benefits APBO. With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 other postretirement benefits APBO.

Defined Contribution Plans

Entergy sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (System Savings Plan).  The System Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan covering eligible employees of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to the System Savings Plan for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to either 70% or 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 6% of their eligible earnings per pay period.  The matching contribution is allocated to investments as directed by the employee.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VI (Savings Plan VI) (established in April 2007) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VII (Savings Plan VII)

(established in April 2007) to which matching contributions are also made.  The plans are defined contribution plans that cover eligible employees, as defined by each plan, of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2023, employees participating in Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII were transferred into the System Savings Plan when Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII merged into the System Savings Plan.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VIII (established January 2021) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries IX (established January 2021) to which company contributions are made. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to these defined contribution plans for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 5% of their eligible earnings per pay period. Eligible participants may also receive a discretionary annual company contribution up to 4% of the participant’s eligible earnings (subject to vesting).

Entergy’s subsidiaries’ contributions to defined contribution plans collectively were $65.1 million in 2023, $62.1 million in 2022, and $62.3 million in 2021.  The majority of the contributions were to the System Savings Plan.

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ 2023, 2022, and 2021 contributions to defined contribution plans for their employees were as follows:

Year	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$5,866	$7,757	$3,534	$1,383	$3,380
2022	$5,124	$7,138	$3,194	$1,223	$2,938
2021	$4,820	$6,678	$3,045	$1,140	$2,699

Entergy Arkansas [Member]

Retirement Benefits [Text Block]

RETIREMENT, OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy has defined benefit qualified pension plans, including the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III (Plan III), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Bargaining Employees, and the Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Cash Balance Plan).  The Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan) was merged with and into Non-Bargaining Plan I effective January 1, 2022. Effective January 1, 2024, Non-Bargaining Plan I was amended to spin-off predominately inactive participants into a new qualified pension plan, Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan VI for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan VI). The Registrant Subsidiaries participate in these plans: Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Plan III, Non-Bargaining Plan VI, and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire was prior to June 30, 2014 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) participate in a noncontributory final average pay formula that provides pension benefits based on the employee’s credited service and compensation during employment. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire is after June 30, 2014 and before January 1, 2021 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) do not participate in a final average pay formula, but instead participate in a cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2021, the Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan were amended to close participation in each plan to those employees whose most recent hire date is after December 31, 2020 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement). Employees hired after this date instead may be eligible to participate in and receive a discretionary employer contribution under an Entergy sponsored tax-qualified defined contribution plan that includes a 401(k) feature.

The assets of the defined benefit qualified pension plans are held in a master trust established by Entergy. Each pension plan has an undivided beneficial interest in each of the investment accounts in the master trust that is maintained by a trustee.  Use of the master trust permits the commingling of the trust assets of the pension plans of Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets in the master trust are commingled, the trustee maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the trust level equity in net earnings (loss) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts in the trust to the various participating pension plans in the trust.  The fair value of the trust’s assets is determined by the trustee and certain investment managers.  The trustee calculates a daily earnings factor, including realized and unrealized gains or losses, collected and accrued income, and administrative expenses, and allocates earnings to each plan in the master trust on a pro rata basis.

Within each pension plan, the record of each Registrant Subsidiary’s beneficial interest in the plan assets is maintained by the plan’s actuary and is updated quarterly.  Assets for each Registrant Subsidiary are increased for investment net income and contributions and are decreased for benefit payments.  A plan’s investment net income/loss (i.e., interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses) is allocated to the Registrant Subsidiaries participating in that plan based on the value of assets for each Registrant Subsidiary at the beginning of the quarter adjusted for contributions and benefit payments made during the quarter.

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries fund pension plans in an amount not less than the minimum required contribution under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The assets of the plans include common and preferred stocks, fixed-income securities, interest in a money market fund, and insurance contracts.  The Registrant Subsidiaries’ pension costs are recovered from customers as a component of cost of service in each of their respective jurisdictions.

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$101,182	$138,085	$165,278
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	298,281	235,805	191,107
Expected return on assets	(388,030)	(402,504)	(424,572)
Recognized net loss	81,919	188,683	334,124
Settlement charges	160,387	230,389	205,878
Net pension cost	$253,739	$390,458	$471,815
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	($213,636)	$6,113	($448,532)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(81,919)	(188,683)	(334,124)
Settlement charge	(160,387)	(230,389)	(205,878)
Total	($455,942)	($412,959)	($988,534)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($202,203)	($22,501)	($516,719)

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$18,461	$24,716	$5,775	$1,955	$4,328	$5,749
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Expected return on assets	(70,574)	(75,757)	(19,423)	(8,798)	(16,641)	(17,585)
Recognized net loss	19,400	19,797	5,719	1,694	4,075	4,236
Settlement charges	26,137	40,437	12,242	2,080	11,230	6,375
Net pension cost	$49,450	$69,539	$19,715	$3,678	$15,718	$12,627
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($30,674)	($71,016)	($20,220)	($3,183)	($16,759)	($3,268)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(19,400)	(19,797)	(5,719)	(1,694)	(4,075)	(4,236)
Settlement charge	(26,137)	(40,437)	(12,242)	(2,080)	(11,230)	(6,375)
Total	($76,211)	($131,250)	($38,181)	($6,957)	($32,064)	($13,879)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($26,761)	($61,711)	($18,466)	($3,279)	($16,346)	($1,252)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$25,210	$33,520	$8,043	$2,745	$5,999	$7,746
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Expected return on assets	(75,820)	(82,478)	(20,168)	(9,920)	(18,317)	(18,173)
Recognized net loss	43,597	41,711	12,594	4,787	9,013	10,938
Settlement charges	36,409	58,550	15,786	6,676	22,411	9,905
Net pension cost	$74,774	$100,633	$29,234	$9,779	$29,835	$21,702
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	$28,365	($15,604)	($4,743)	$525	$13,363	($7,063)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(43,597)	(41,711)	(12,594)	(4,787)	(9,013)	(10,938)
Settlement charge	(36,409)	(58,550)	(15,786)	(6,676)	(22,411)	(9,905)
Total	($51,641)	($115,865)	($33,123)	($10,938)	($18,061)	($27,906)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$23,133	($15,232)	($3,889)	($1,159)	$11,774	($6,204)

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$28,632	$38,271	$9,070	$3,038	$6,921	$8,851
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	35,683	39,740	10,446	4,392	8,381	9,087
Expected return on assets	(78,368)	(89,821)	(22,407)	(10,598)	(21,158)	(19,254)
Recognized net loss	69,290	67,015	20,007	7,596	12,676	18,404
Settlement charges	37,682	61,945	16,710	5,431	11,797	12,260
Net pension cost	$92,919	$117,150	$33,826	$9,859	$18,617	$29,348
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($96,066)	($89,534)	($29,675)	($16,159)	($18,217)	($27,617)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(69,290)	(67,015)	(20,007)	(7,596)	(12,676)	(18,404)
Settlement charge	(37,682)	(61,945)	(16,710)	(5,431)	(11,797)	(12,260)
Total	($203,038)	($218,494)	($66,392)	($29,186)	($42,690)	($58,281)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($110,119)	($101,344)	($32,566)	($19,327)	($24,073)	($28,933)

Qualified Pension Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$6,166,106	$8,409,620
Service cost	101,182	138,085
Interest cost	298,281	235,805
Actuarial (gain)/loss	123,237	(1,660,463)
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Balance at December 31	$5,915,404	$6,166,106
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$5,242,098	$6,993,110
Actual return on plan assets	724,903	(1,264,071)
Employer contributions	267,002	470,000
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$5,460,601	$5,242,098
Funded status	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset
Net loss	$1,447,978	$1,842,348
Amount recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$347,268	$408,839

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets for the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Service cost	18,461	24,716	5,775	1,955	4,328	5,749
Interest cost	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Actuarial (gain)/loss	39,643	1,925	(328)	4,590	(1,416)	14,522
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Balance at December 31	$1,117,585	$1,173,283	$295,942	$133,950	$239,984	$286,558
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Actual return on plan assets	140,891	148,698	39,315	16,571	31,984	35,375
Employer contributions	54,468	44,565	21,110	1,420	5,314	15,543
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$991,894	$1,058,711	$280,260	$117,923	$222,496	$255,443
Funded status	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$485,113	$319,116	$102,208	$44,911	$63,665	$111,996
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$13,296	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($68.7) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($103.1) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($31.4) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($5.3) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($29.4) million at Entergy Texas, and ($16.7) million at System Energy.

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,579,346	$1,736,396	$448,858	$195,380	$371,802	$394,794
Service cost	25,210	33,520	8,043	2,745	5,999	7,746
Interest cost	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Actuarial gain	(280,691)	(357,572)	(88,303)	(40,462)	(65,795)	(81,504)
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Balance at December 31	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$1,302,588	$1,446,658	$356,424	$172,366	$341,915	$312,060
Actual return on plan assets	(233,236)	(259,490)	(63,392)	(31,067)	(60,841)	(56,267)
Employer contributions	92,971	53,658	33,287	1,129	2,513	28,619
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Funded status	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$561,323	$445,116	$140,389	$51,868	$95,729	$125,876
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$18,546	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($96) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($146.6) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($48) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($16.2) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($48.9) million at Entergy Texas, and ($23.5) million at System Energy.

The qualified pension plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to asset gains resulting from an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The qualified pension plans incurred a small net actuarial loss during 2022 primarily due to asset losses resulting from an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets, substantially offset by liability gains due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations.

Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation

The accumulated benefit obligation for Entergy’s qualified pension plans was $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The qualified pension accumulated benefit obligation for each of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Entergy Arkansas	$1,048,901	$1,008,152
Entergy Louisiana	$1,085,318	$1,146,561
Entergy Mississippi	$273,338	$292,596
Entergy New Orleans	$125,878	$128,499
Entergy Texas	$225,379	$245,428
System Energy	$267,432	$269,583

Other Postretirement Benefits

Entergy also currently offers retiree medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits (other postretirement benefits) for eligible retired employees.  Employees who commenced employment before July 1, 2014 and who satisfy certain eligibility requirements (including retiring from Entergy after a certain age and/or years of service with Entergy and immediately commencing their Entergy pension benefit), may become eligible for other postretirement benefits.

In March 2020, Entergy announced changes to its other postretirement benefits. Effective January 1, 2021, certain retired, former non-bargaining employees age 65 and older who are eligible for Entergy-sponsored retiree welfare benefits, and their eligible spouses who are age 65 and older (collectively, Medicare-eligible participants), are eligible to participate in an Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, and are no longer eligible for retiree coverage under the Entergy Corporation Companies’ Benefits Plus Medical, Dental and Vision Plans. Under the Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, Medicare-eligible participants are eligible to participate in a health reimbursement arrangement which they may use towards the purchase of various types of qualified insurance offered through a Medicare exchange provider and for other qualified medical expenses. The changes affecting active bargaining unit employees were negotiated with the unions prior to implementation, where necessary, and to the extent required by law.

Effective January 1, 1993, Entergy adopted an accounting standard requiring a change from a cash method to an accrual method of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas have received regulatory approval to recover accrued other postretirement benefits costs through rates.  The LPSC ordered Entergy Louisiana to continue the use of the pay-as-you-go method for ratemaking purposes for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  However, the LPSC retains the flexibility to examine individual companies’ accounting for other postretirement benefits to determine if special exceptions to this order are warranted. Pursuant to regulatory directives, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy contribute the other postretirement benefits costs collected in rates into external trusts.  System Energy is funding, on behalf of Entergy Operations, other postretirement benefits associated with employees who work or worked at Grand Gulf.

Trust assets contributed by participating Registrant Subsidiaries are in master trusts, established by Entergy Corporation and maintained by a trustee.  Each participating Registrant Subsidiary holds a beneficial interest in the trusts’ assets.  The assets in the master trusts are commingled for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets are commingled, supporting records are maintained for the purpose of allocating the beneficial interest in net earnings/(losses) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts to the various participating plans and participating Registrant Subsidiaries. Beneficial interest in an investment account’s net income/(loss) is comprised of interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and expenses.  Beneficial interest from these

investments is allocated to the plans and participating Registrant Subsidiary based on their portion of net assets in the pooled accounts.

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefits Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or AOCI

Entergy Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs, including amounts capitalized and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$14,654	$24,734	$26,578
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefits obligation (APBO)	42,272	27,306	21,278
Expected return on assets	(36,732)	(43,420)	(43,220)
Amortization of prior service credit	(22,558)	(25,550)	(33,069)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	(11,446)	4,333	2,853
Net other postretirement benefits income	($13,810)	($12,597)	($25,580)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	($4,434)	($858)	($3,168)
Net (gain)/loss	(44,441)	(131,524)	6,210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	22,558	25,550	33,069
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	11,446	(4,333)	(2,853)
Total	($14,871)	($111,165)	$33,258
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($28,681)	($123,762)	$7,678

Total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs of the Registrant Subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized and deferred, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$2,965	$3,379	$878	$235	$809	$754
Interest cost on APBO	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Expected return on assets	(15,113)	—	(4,716)	(5,263)	(8,776)	(2,535)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,096	(3,804)	(955)	(916)	(4,371)	(293)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	171	(7,057)	85	466	914	—
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($1,879)	$1,449	($2,538)	($4,318)	($8,827)	($348)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	$—	($4,434)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	(23,033)	(458)	(6,883)	(7,606)	(8,790)	(3,942)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(2,096)	3,804	955	916	4,371	293
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(171)	7,057	(85)	(466)	(914)	—
Total	($25,300)	$5,969	($6,013)	($7,156)	($5,333)	($3,649)
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($27,179)	$7,418	($8,551)	($11,474)	($14,160)	($3,997)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,457	$5,633	$1,354	$397	$1,322	$1,239
Interest cost on APBO	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Expected return on assets	(17,930)	—	(5,575)	(5,997)	(10,273)	(3,162)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,885	(4,630)	(1,772)	(916)	(4,371)	(319)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	873	(744)	222	(898)	648	121
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($5,665)	$6,029	($4,370)	($6,720)	($11,078)	($1,005)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	$273	$323	($1,300)	$—	$—	$141
Net (gain)/loss	12,894	(65,501)	6,629	17,334	22,323	1,208
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(1,885)	4,630	1,772	916	4,371	319
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(873)	744	(222)	898	(648)	(121)
Total	$10,409	($59,804)	$6,879	$19,148	$26,046	$1,547
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$4,744	($53,775)	$2,509	$12,428	$14,968	$542

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,135	$6,174	$1,448	$437	$1,384	$1,340
Interest cost on APBO	3,726	4,520	1,110	521	1,269	878
Expected return on assets	(18,020)	—	(5,536)	(5,750)	(10,192)	(3,156)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,121)	(4,920)	(1,775)	(916)	(3,742)	(436)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	196	(364)	76	(712)	398	61
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($11,084)	$5,410	($4,677)	($6,420)	($10,883)	($1,313)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	($85)	$357	$—	$—	($3,776)	$69
Net (gain)/loss	9,956	(2,367)	(2,823)	(3,330)	939	210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	1,121	4,920	1,775	916	3,742	436
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(196)	364	(76)	712	(398)	(61)
Total	$10,796	$3,274	($1,124)	($1,702)	$507	$654
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($288)	$8,684	($5,801)	($8,122)	($10,376)	($659)

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Not Yet Recognized and Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$865,854	$1,189,682
Service cost	14,654	24,734
Interest cost	42,272	27,306
Plan amendments	(4,434)	(858)
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Actuarial gain	(4,303)	(297,128)
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	280	264
Balance at December 31	$837,644	$865,854
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$623,824	$771,319
Actual return on plan assets	76,870	(122,184)
Employer contributions	49,126	52,835
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$673,141	$623,824
Funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	($45,706)	($42,484)
Non-current liabilities	(118,797)	(199,546)
Total funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset
Prior service credit	($21,465)	($29,323)
Net (gain)/loss	(33,617)	16,956
	($55,082)	($12,367)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	($34,899)	($45,167)
Net gain	(116,078)	(133,656)
	($150,977)	($178,823)

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Balance Sheets of the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Service cost	2,965	3,379	878	235	809	754
Interest cost	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Plan amendments	—	(4,434)	—	—	—	—
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(6,403)	(458)	(1,650)	(1,676)	337	(1,075)
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	33	46	10	5	11	13
Balance at December 31	$155,987	$170,139	$41,344	$21,685	$51,617	$33,778
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Actual return on plan assets	31,743	—	9,949	11,193	17,903	5,402
Employer contributions	582	20,451	646	213	235	480
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$274,814	$—	$85,662	$100,536	$161,318	$45,402
Funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,049)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	118,827	(155,090)	44,318	78,851	109,701	11,624
Total funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$4,983	$—	($2,682)	($1,982)	($11,790)	($496)
Net loss/(gain)	(17,980)	—	(4,815)	(5,843)	14,542	112
	($12,997)	$—	($7,497)	($7,825)	$2,752	($384)
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,645)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(75,709)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($88,354)	$—	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$221,183	$253,031	$61,001	$31,866	$71,961	$47,875
Service cost	4,457	5,633	1,354	397	1,322	1,239
Interest cost	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Plan amendments	273	323	(1,300)	—	—	141
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Actuarial gain	(54,923)	(65,501)	(14,465)	(6,867)	(16,291)	(10,679)
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	42	57	6	7	16	17
Balance at December 31	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$315,495	$—	$97,888	$111,137	$182,285	$54,650
Actual return on plan assets	(49,887)	—	(15,519)	(18,204)	(28,341)	(8,725)
Employer contributions	1,573	16,187	759	333	(23)	944
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,356)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	91,099	(167,770)	35,131	67,169	95,317	7,160
Total funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$7,079	$—	($3,637)	($2,898)	($16,161)	($789)
Net loss	5,224	—	2,153	2,229	24,246	4,054
	$12,303	$—	($1,484)	($669)	$8,085	$3,265
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,015)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(82,308)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($94,323)	$—	$—	$—	$—

The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to updated demographic assumptions and census data coupled with an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, partially offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by asset losses due to an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets during 2022.

Non-Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy also sponsors non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  Entergy recognized net periodic pension cost related to these plans of $43.8 million in 2023, $30.9 million in 2022, and $28.6 million in 2021.  In 2023, 2022, and 2021, Entergy recognized $27.9 million, $12.2 million, and $10.9 million, respectively, in settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan that is included in the non-qualified pension plan cost above.

The projected benefit obligation was $88.6 million as of December 31, 2023 of which $13.8 million was a current liability and $74.8 million was a non-current liability. The projected benefit obligation was $152.4 million as of December 31, 2022 of which $62.4 million was a current liability and $90 million was a non-current liability.  The accumulated benefit obligation was $77.9 million and $140 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unamortized prior service cost and net loss are recognized in regulatory assets ($29.7 million at December 31, 2023 and $56.8 million at December 31, 2022) and accumulated other comprehensive income before taxes ($3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $8.7 million at December 31, 2022).

A Rabbi Trust was established for the benefit of certain participants in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans. The Rabbi Trust assets were invested in money-market funds which were recorded at fair value with all gains and losses recognized immediately in income. All of the investments were classified as Level 1 investments for purposes of Fair Value Measurements. At December 31, 2022, the fair value of the assets held in the Rabbi Trust was $35 million. In August 2023 the Rabbi Trust assets were used to pay benefits due under the non-qualified pension plans.

The following Registrant Subsidiaries participate in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  The net periodic pension cost for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans for 2023, 2022, and 2021, was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$637	$99	$808	$132	$253
2022	$282	$102	$321	$114	$1,320
2021	$343	$307	$365	$30	$615

Included in the 2023 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $379 thousand and $453 thousand for Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2022 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $1 thousand, $2 thousand, and $1 million for Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2021 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $155 thousand and $172 thousand for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan.

The projected benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$2,313	$2,574	$3,369	$1,034	$3,762
2022	$2,433	$1,197	$3,830	$1,024	$3,850

The accumulated benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$1,935	$2,494	$3,187	$814	$3,701
2022	$2,192	$1,197	$3,594	$719	$3,776

The following amounts were recorded on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($276)	($308)	($474)	($106)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,037)	(2,266)	(2,895)	(928)	(3,314)
Total funded status	($2,313)	($2,574)	($3,369)	($1,034)	($3,762)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$857	$1,604	$1,303	$5	($2,526)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$67	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($234)	($184)	($214)	($32)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,199)	(1,013)	(3,616)	(992)	(3,402)
Total funded status	($2,433)	($1,197)	($3,830)	($1,024)	($3,850)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$512	$119	$1,291	$111	($2,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$5	$—	$—	$—

The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial loss during 2023 primarily as a result of liability losses due to differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions. The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial gain during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions.

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2023:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$14,038	($452)	$13,586
Amortization of gain (loss)	(4,407)	11,590	(593)	6,590
Settlement loss	(7,844)	—	(3,004)	(10,848)
	($12,251)	$25,628	($4,049)	$9,328
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$3,804	$—	$3,804
Amortization of gain (loss)	(792)	7,057	(2)	6,263
Settlement loss	(1,617)	—	—	(1,617)
	($2,409)	$10,861	($2)	$8,450

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2022:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$16,052	($715)	$15,337
Amortization of loss	(30,147)	(2,381)	(1,331)	(33,859)
Settlement loss	(23,636)	—	(1,685)	(25,321)
	($53,783)	$13,671	($3,731)	($43,843)
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$4,630	$—	$4,630
Amortization of gain (loss)	(1,669)	744	(2)	(927)
Settlement loss	(2,342)	—	—	(2,342)
	($4,011)	$5,374	($2)	$1,361

Accounting for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Accounting standards require an employer to recognize in its balance sheet the funded status of its benefit plans.  This is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation.  Entergy uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement plans.  Employers are to record previously unrecognized gains and losses, prior service costs, and any remaining transition asset or obligation (that resulted from adopting prior pension and other postretirement benefits accounting standards) as comprehensive income and/or as a regulatory asset reflective of the recovery mechanism for pension and other postretirement benefits costs in the Registrant Subsidiaries’ respective regulatory jurisdictions.  For the portion of Entergy Louisiana that is not regulated, the unrecognized prior service cost, gains and losses, and transition asset/obligation for its pension and other postretirement benefits obligations are recorded as other comprehensive income.  Entergy Louisiana recovers other postretirement benefits costs on a pay-as-you-go basis and records the unrecognized prior

service cost, gains and losses, and transition obligation for its other postretirement benefits obligation as other comprehensive income.  Accounting standards also require that changes in the funded status be recorded as other comprehensive income and/or a regulatory asset in the period in which the changes occur.

With regard to pension and other postretirement costs, Entergy calculates the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets by multiplying the long-term expected rate of return on assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets.  Entergy determines the MRV of its pension plan assets, except for the long duration fixed income assets, by calculating a value that uses a 20-quarter phase-in of the difference between actual and expected returns. For the long duration fixed income assets in the pension trust and for its other postretirement benefits plan assets Entergy uses fair value as the MRV.

In accordance with ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”, the other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations and are presented by Entergy in miscellaneous - net in other income.

Qualified Pension Settlement Cost

Year-to-date lump sum benefit payments from Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Non-Bargaining Plan II, and Bargaining Plan II exceeded the sum of the Plans’ service and interest cost, resulting in settlement costs during 2023, 2022, and 2021. In accordance with accounting standards, settlement accounting requires immediate recognition of the portion of previously unrecognized losses associated with the settled portion of the plans’ pension liability. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy participate in one or both of Non-Bargaining Plan I and Bargaining Plan I and incurred settlement costs. Similar to other pension costs, the settlement costs were included with employee labor costs and charged to expense and capital in the same manner that labor costs were charged. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans received regulatory approval to defer the expense portion of settlement costs, with future amortization of the deferred settlement expense over the period in which the expense otherwise would be recorded had the immediate recognition not occurred.

Entergy Texas Reserve

In September 2020, Entergy Texas elected to establish a reserve, in accordance with PUCT regulations, to track the surplus or deficit in the annual amount of actuarially determined pension and other postretirement benefits chargeable to Entergy Texas’s expense. The reserve amounts recorded for 2020 and 2021 were included in the base rate case that was filed with the PUCT in July 2022, and amortization of that amount began in 2023 when interim rates became effective. The reserve amounts recorded for 2022 and through December 2023 will be evaluated in the next rate case filed by Entergy Texas, and an amortization period will be determined at that time. At December 31, 2023, the balance in this reserve was approximately $32.7 million.

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Plans’ Assets

The Plan Administrator’s trust asset investment strategy is to invest the assets in a manner whereby long-term earnings on the assets (plus cash contributions) provide adequate funding for retiree benefit payments.  The mix of assets is based on an optimization study that identifies asset allocation targets in order to achieve the maximum return for an acceptable level of risk, while minimizing the expected contributions and pension and postretirement expense.

In the optimization studies, the Plan Administrator formulates assumptions about characteristics, such as expected asset class investment returns, volatility (risk), and correlation coefficients among the various asset classes.  The future market assumptions used in the optimization study are determined by examining historical

market characteristics of the various asset classes and making adjustments to reflect future conditions expected to prevail over the study period.

The target asset allocation for pension adjusts dynamically based on the funded status of each plan within the trust. The current targets are shown below. The expectation is that the allocation to fixed income securities will increase as the pension plans’ funded status increases.  The following ranges were established to produce an acceptable, economically efficient plan to manage around the targets.

For postretirement assets the target and range asset allocations (as shown below) reflect recommendations made in the latest optimization study. The target asset allocations for postretirement assets adjust dynamically based on the funded status of each sub-account within each trust. The current weighted-average targets shown below represent the aggregate of all targets for all sub-accounts within all trusts.

Entergy’s qualified pension and postretirement weighted-average asset allocations by asset category at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the target asset allocation and ranges for 2023 are as follows:

Pension Asset Allocation	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	32%	26%	to	38%	33%	42%
International Equity Securities	17%	14%	to	20%	18%	22%
Intermediate Fixed Income Securities	8%	7%	to	9%	9%	11%
Long Duration Fixed Income Securities	43%	39%	to	47%	40%	22%
Other	—%	—%	to	10%	—%	3%

Postretirement Asset Allocation	Non-Taxable and Taxable
	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	25%	20%	to	30%	28%	25%
International Equity Securities	17%	12%	to	22%	17%	18%
Fixed Income Securities	58%	53%	to	63%	55%	57%
Other	—%	—%	to	5%	—%	—%

In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used in the calculation of benefit plan costs, Entergy reviews past performance, current and expected future asset allocations, and capital market assumptions of its investment consultant and some investment managers.

The expected long-term rate of return for the qualified pension plans’ assets is based primarily on the geometric average of the historical annual performance of a representative portfolio weighted by the target asset allocation defined in the table above, along with other indications of expected return on assets. The time period reflected is a long-dated period spanning several decades.

The expected long-term rate of return for the non-taxable postretirement trust assets is determined using the same methodology described above for pension assets, but the aggregate asset allocation specific to the non-taxable postretirement assets is used.

For the taxable postretirement trust assets, the investment allocation includes tax-exempt fixed income securities.  This asset allocation, in combination with the same methodology employed to determine the expected return for other postretirement assets (as described above), and with a modification to reflect applicable taxes, is used to produce the expected long-term rate of return for taxable postretirement trust assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Entergy’s investment guidelines mandate the avoidance of risk concentrations.  Types of concentrations specified to be avoided include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country, geographic area, and individual security issuance.  As of December 31, 2023, all investment managers and assets were materially in compliance with the approved investment guidelines, therefore there were no significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10 percent of plan assets) of credit risk in Entergy’s pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards provide the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access at the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

•Level 2 - Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are, either directly or indirectly, observable for the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Assets are valued based on prices derived by an independent party that uses inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, and issuer spreads.  Prices are reviewed and can be challenged with the independent parties and/or overridden if it is believed such would be more reflective of fair value.  Level 2 inputs include the following:

-     quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

-     quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

-     inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or

-    inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If an asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•Level 3 - Level 3 refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, a summary of the investments held in the master trusts for Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement plans in which the Registrant Subsidiaries participate.

Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$10,827	(b)	$—		$—	$10,827
Common	715,452	(b)	—		—	715,452
Common collective trusts (c)						2,066,247
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		1,085,231	(a)	—	1,085,231
Corporate debt instruments	—		924,904	(a)	—	924,904
Registered investment companies (e)	34,364	(d)	2,718	(d)	—	657,691
Other	774	(f)	78,883	(f)	—	79,657
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,899	(g)	—	5,899
Total investments	$761,417		$2,097,635		$—	$5,545,908
Cash						1,488
Other pending transactions						(22,404)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(64,391)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,460,601

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$12,178	(b)	$—		$—	$12,178
Common	807,437	(b)	—		—	807,437
Common collective trusts (c)						2,516,688
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		673,348	(a)	—	673,348
Corporate debt instruments	—		525,184	(a)	—	525,184
Registered investment companies (e)	221,582	(d)	2,595	(d)	—	750,454
Other	—		15,395	(f)	—	15,395
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,911	(g)	—	5,911
Total investments	$1,041,197		$1,222,433		$—	$5,306,595
Cash						10,601
Other pending transactions						(13,813)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(61,285)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,242,098

Other Postretirement Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$276,560
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$80,219	(b)	$84,521	(a)	$—	164,740
Corporate debt instruments	—		106,523	(a)	—	106,523
Registered investment companies	548	(d)	—		—	548
Other	—		57,511	(f)	—	57,511
Total investments	$80,767		$248,555		$—	$605,882
Other pending transactions						2,868
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						64,391
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$673,141

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$241,676
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$69,503	(b)	$78,436	(a)	$—	147,939
Corporate debt instruments	—		113,273	(a)	—	113,273
Registered investment companies	3,016	(d)	—		—	3,016
Other	—		56,149	(f)	—	56,149
Total investments	$72,519		$247,858		$—	$562,053
Other pending transactions						486
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						61,285
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$623,824

(a)Certain fixed income debt securities (corporate, government, and securitized) are stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(b)Common stocks, preferred stocks, and certain fixed income debt securities (government) are stated at fair value determined by quoted market prices.

(c)The common collective trusts hold investments in accordance with stated objectives.  The investment strategy of the trusts is to capture the growth potential of equity markets by replicating the performance of a specified index.  The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Net asset value per share of common collective trusts estimate fair value. Common collective trusts are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(d)Registered investment companies are money market mutual funds with a stable net asset value of one dollar per share. Registered investment companies may hold investments in domestic and international bond markets or domestic equities valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The money market mutual funds held by the trusts are deemed to be actively traded. Certain registered investment companies are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.

(e)Certain of these registered investment companies are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(f)The other remaining assets are U.S. municipal and foreign government bonds stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(g)The unallocated insurance contract investments are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.  The contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest, less funds used to pay benefits and contract expenses, and less distributions to the master trust.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Based upon the assumptions used to measure Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement benefits obligations at December 31, 2023, and including pension and other postretirement benefits attributable to estimated future employee service, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries will be as follows:

	Estimated Future Benefits Payments
	Qualified Pension	Non-Qualified Pension	Other Postretirement
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$463,557	$13,802	$74,649
2025	$449,803	$10,894	$70,720
2026	$450,945	$8,507	$67,105
2027	$449,510	$14,374	$63,949
2028	$450,827	$9,325	$61,234
2029 - 2033	$2,222,959	$36,584	$283,477

Based upon the same assumptions, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees will be as follows:

Estimated Future Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$90,682	$95,706	$25,534	$11,300	$21,807	$24,163
2025	$89,113	$92,420	$24,816	$10,799	$21,019	$22,053
2026	$88,427	$92,499	$25,210	$10,910	$21,268	$21,612
2027	$87,845	$91,485	$24,686	$10,566	$20,407	$22,665
2028	$87,719	$91,450	$24,147	$10,458	$20,074	$22,107
2029 - 2033	$429,882	$444,131	$115,629	$48,870	$92,182	$109,712

Estimated Future Non-Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$276	$308	$474	$106	$448
2025	$474	$301	$547	$143	$423
2026	$160	$288	$461	$139	$445
2027	$149	$265	$642	$224	$395
2028	$288	$270	$395	$141	$369
2029 - 2033	$938	$941	$1,326	$529	$1,524

Estimated Future Other Postretirement Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$13,697	$15,049	$3,521	$2,200	$5,187	$2,811
2025	$12,913	$14,380	$3,386	$2,086	$4,874	$2,668
2026	$12,342	$13,676	$3,256	$1,942	$4,436	$2,434
2027	$11,767	$13,037	$3,126	$1,785	$4,215	$2,320
2028	$11,424	$12,348	$3,121	$1,640	$3,937	$2,266
2029 - 2033	$54,789	$57,264	$14,563	$7,297	$17,857	$11,270

Contributions

Entergy currently expects to contribute approximately $270 million to its qualified pension plans and approximately $45.9 million to other postretirement plans in 2024.  The expected 2024 pension and other postretirement plan contributions of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their employees are shown below.  The 2024 required pension contributions will be known with more certainty when the January 1, 2024 valuations are completed, which is expected by April 1, 2024.

The Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute approximately the following to the qualified pension and other postretirement plans for their current and former employees in 2024:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Pension Contributions	$55,112	$48,401	$14,980	$4,931	$8,272	$16,650
Other Postretirement Contributions	$529	$15,049	$178	$205	$156	$34

Actuarial Assumptions

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the pension PBO and the other postretirement benefits APBO as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	2023	2022
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension	5.02% - 5.10% Blended 5.06%	5.21% - 5.27% Blended 5.24%
Other postretirement	5.01%	5.20%
Non-qualified pension	4.68%	4.98%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Interest crediting rate	4.00%	4.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.95%	6.65%
Post-65	7.88%	7.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032
Post-65	2032	2032

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension and other postretirement benefits costs for 2023, 2022, and 2021 were as follows:

	2023	2022	2021
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension:
Service cost	5.26%	3.07%	2.81%
Interest cost	5.16%	2.49%	2.08%
Other postretirement:
Service cost	5.00%	3.20%	2.98%
Interest cost	5.09%	2.31%	1.86%
Non-qualified pension:
Service cost	5.31%	4.94%	1.48%
Interest cost	5.30%	5.03%	2.14%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets:
Pension assets	7.00%	6.75%	6.75%
Other postretirement non-taxable assets	6.00% - 7.00%	5.75% - 6.75%	6.00% - 6.75%
Other postretirement taxable assets	5.25%	4.75%	5.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.65%	5.65%	5.87%
Post-65	7.50%	5.90%	6.31%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032	2030
Post-65	2032	2032	2028

With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 other postretirement benefits APBO. With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 other postretirement benefits APBO.

Defined Contribution Plans

Entergy sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (System Savings Plan).  The System Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan covering eligible employees of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to the System Savings Plan for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to either 70% or 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 6% of their eligible earnings per pay period.  The matching contribution is allocated to investments as directed by the employee.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VI (Savings Plan VI) (established in April 2007) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VII (Savings Plan VII)

(established in April 2007) to which matching contributions are also made.  The plans are defined contribution plans that cover eligible employees, as defined by each plan, of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2023, employees participating in Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII were transferred into the System Savings Plan when Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII merged into the System Savings Plan.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VIII (established January 2021) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries IX (established January 2021) to which company contributions are made. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to these defined contribution plans for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 5% of their eligible earnings per pay period. Eligible participants may also receive a discretionary annual company contribution up to 4% of the participant’s eligible earnings (subject to vesting).

Entergy’s subsidiaries’ contributions to defined contribution plans collectively were $65.1 million in 2023, $62.1 million in 2022, and $62.3 million in 2021.  The majority of the contributions were to the System Savings Plan.

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ 2023, 2022, and 2021 contributions to defined contribution plans for their employees were as follows:

Year	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$5,866	$7,757	$3,534	$1,383	$3,380
2022	$5,124	$7,138	$3,194	$1,223	$2,938
2021	$4,820	$6,678	$3,045	$1,140	$2,699

Entergy Louisiana [Member]

Retirement Benefits [Text Block]

RETIREMENT, OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy has defined benefit qualified pension plans, including the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III (Plan III), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Bargaining Employees, and the Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Cash Balance Plan).  The Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan) was merged with and into Non-Bargaining Plan I effective January 1, 2022. Effective January 1, 2024, Non-Bargaining Plan I was amended to spin-off predominately inactive participants into a new qualified pension plan, Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan VI for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan VI). The Registrant Subsidiaries participate in these plans: Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Plan III, Non-Bargaining Plan VI, and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire was prior to June 30, 2014 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) participate in a noncontributory final average pay formula that provides pension benefits based on the employee’s credited service and compensation during employment. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire is after June 30, 2014 and before January 1, 2021 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) do not participate in a final average pay formula, but instead participate in a cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2021, the Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan were amended to close participation in each plan to those employees whose most recent hire date is after December 31, 2020 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement). Employees hired after this date instead may be eligible to participate in and receive a discretionary employer contribution under an Entergy sponsored tax-qualified defined contribution plan that includes a 401(k) feature.

The assets of the defined benefit qualified pension plans are held in a master trust established by Entergy. Each pension plan has an undivided beneficial interest in each of the investment accounts in the master trust that is maintained by a trustee.  Use of the master trust permits the commingling of the trust assets of the pension plans of Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets in the master trust are commingled, the trustee maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the trust level equity in net earnings (loss) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts in the trust to the various participating pension plans in the trust.  The fair value of the trust’s assets is determined by the trustee and certain investment managers.  The trustee calculates a daily earnings factor, including realized and unrealized gains or losses, collected and accrued income, and administrative expenses, and allocates earnings to each plan in the master trust on a pro rata basis.

Within each pension plan, the record of each Registrant Subsidiary’s beneficial interest in the plan assets is maintained by the plan’s actuary and is updated quarterly.  Assets for each Registrant Subsidiary are increased for investment net income and contributions and are decreased for benefit payments.  A plan’s investment net income/loss (i.e., interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses) is allocated to the Registrant Subsidiaries participating in that plan based on the value of assets for each Registrant Subsidiary at the beginning of the quarter adjusted for contributions and benefit payments made during the quarter.

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries fund pension plans in an amount not less than the minimum required contribution under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The assets of the plans include common and preferred stocks, fixed-income securities, interest in a money market fund, and insurance contracts.  The Registrant Subsidiaries’ pension costs are recovered from customers as a component of cost of service in each of their respective jurisdictions.

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$101,182	$138,085	$165,278
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	298,281	235,805	191,107
Expected return on assets	(388,030)	(402,504)	(424,572)
Recognized net loss	81,919	188,683	334,124
Settlement charges	160,387	230,389	205,878
Net pension cost	$253,739	$390,458	$471,815
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	($213,636)	$6,113	($448,532)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(81,919)	(188,683)	(334,124)
Settlement charge	(160,387)	(230,389)	(205,878)
Total	($455,942)	($412,959)	($988,534)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($202,203)	($22,501)	($516,719)

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$18,461	$24,716	$5,775	$1,955	$4,328	$5,749
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Expected return on assets	(70,574)	(75,757)	(19,423)	(8,798)	(16,641)	(17,585)
Recognized net loss	19,400	19,797	5,719	1,694	4,075	4,236
Settlement charges	26,137	40,437	12,242	2,080	11,230	6,375
Net pension cost	$49,450	$69,539	$19,715	$3,678	$15,718	$12,627
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($30,674)	($71,016)	($20,220)	($3,183)	($16,759)	($3,268)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(19,400)	(19,797)	(5,719)	(1,694)	(4,075)	(4,236)
Settlement charge	(26,137)	(40,437)	(12,242)	(2,080)	(11,230)	(6,375)
Total	($76,211)	($131,250)	($38,181)	($6,957)	($32,064)	($13,879)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($26,761)	($61,711)	($18,466)	($3,279)	($16,346)	($1,252)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$25,210	$33,520	$8,043	$2,745	$5,999	$7,746
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Expected return on assets	(75,820)	(82,478)	(20,168)	(9,920)	(18,317)	(18,173)
Recognized net loss	43,597	41,711	12,594	4,787	9,013	10,938
Settlement charges	36,409	58,550	15,786	6,676	22,411	9,905
Net pension cost	$74,774	$100,633	$29,234	$9,779	$29,835	$21,702
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	$28,365	($15,604)	($4,743)	$525	$13,363	($7,063)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(43,597)	(41,711)	(12,594)	(4,787)	(9,013)	(10,938)
Settlement charge	(36,409)	(58,550)	(15,786)	(6,676)	(22,411)	(9,905)
Total	($51,641)	($115,865)	($33,123)	($10,938)	($18,061)	($27,906)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$23,133	($15,232)	($3,889)	($1,159)	$11,774	($6,204)

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$28,632	$38,271	$9,070	$3,038	$6,921	$8,851
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	35,683	39,740	10,446	4,392	8,381	9,087
Expected return on assets	(78,368)	(89,821)	(22,407)	(10,598)	(21,158)	(19,254)
Recognized net loss	69,290	67,015	20,007	7,596	12,676	18,404
Settlement charges	37,682	61,945	16,710	5,431	11,797	12,260
Net pension cost	$92,919	$117,150	$33,826	$9,859	$18,617	$29,348
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($96,066)	($89,534)	($29,675)	($16,159)	($18,217)	($27,617)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(69,290)	(67,015)	(20,007)	(7,596)	(12,676)	(18,404)
Settlement charge	(37,682)	(61,945)	(16,710)	(5,431)	(11,797)	(12,260)
Total	($203,038)	($218,494)	($66,392)	($29,186)	($42,690)	($58,281)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($110,119)	($101,344)	($32,566)	($19,327)	($24,073)	($28,933)

Qualified Pension Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$6,166,106	$8,409,620
Service cost	101,182	138,085
Interest cost	298,281	235,805
Actuarial (gain)/loss	123,237	(1,660,463)
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Balance at December 31	$5,915,404	$6,166,106
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$5,242,098	$6,993,110
Actual return on plan assets	724,903	(1,264,071)
Employer contributions	267,002	470,000
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$5,460,601	$5,242,098
Funded status	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset
Net loss	$1,447,978	$1,842,348
Amount recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$347,268	$408,839

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets for the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Service cost	18,461	24,716	5,775	1,955	4,328	5,749
Interest cost	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Actuarial (gain)/loss	39,643	1,925	(328)	4,590	(1,416)	14,522
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Balance at December 31	$1,117,585	$1,173,283	$295,942	$133,950	$239,984	$286,558
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Actual return on plan assets	140,891	148,698	39,315	16,571	31,984	35,375
Employer contributions	54,468	44,565	21,110	1,420	5,314	15,543
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$991,894	$1,058,711	$280,260	$117,923	$222,496	$255,443
Funded status	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$485,113	$319,116	$102,208	$44,911	$63,665	$111,996
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$13,296	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($68.7) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($103.1) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($31.4) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($5.3) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($29.4) million at Entergy Texas, and ($16.7) million at System Energy.

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,579,346	$1,736,396	$448,858	$195,380	$371,802	$394,794
Service cost	25,210	33,520	8,043	2,745	5,999	7,746
Interest cost	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Actuarial gain	(280,691)	(357,572)	(88,303)	(40,462)	(65,795)	(81,504)
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Balance at December 31	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$1,302,588	$1,446,658	$356,424	$172,366	$341,915	$312,060
Actual return on plan assets	(233,236)	(259,490)	(63,392)	(31,067)	(60,841)	(56,267)
Employer contributions	92,971	53,658	33,287	1,129	2,513	28,619
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Funded status	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$561,323	$445,116	$140,389	$51,868	$95,729	$125,876
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$18,546	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($96) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($146.6) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($48) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($16.2) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($48.9) million at Entergy Texas, and ($23.5) million at System Energy.

The qualified pension plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to asset gains resulting from an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The qualified pension plans incurred a small net actuarial loss during 2022 primarily due to asset losses resulting from an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets, substantially offset by liability gains due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations.

Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation

The accumulated benefit obligation for Entergy’s qualified pension plans was $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The qualified pension accumulated benefit obligation for each of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Entergy Arkansas	$1,048,901	$1,008,152
Entergy Louisiana	$1,085,318	$1,146,561
Entergy Mississippi	$273,338	$292,596
Entergy New Orleans	$125,878	$128,499
Entergy Texas	$225,379	$245,428
System Energy	$267,432	$269,583

Other Postretirement Benefits

Entergy also currently offers retiree medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits (other postretirement benefits) for eligible retired employees.  Employees who commenced employment before July 1, 2014 and who satisfy certain eligibility requirements (including retiring from Entergy after a certain age and/or years of service with Entergy and immediately commencing their Entergy pension benefit), may become eligible for other postretirement benefits.

In March 2020, Entergy announced changes to its other postretirement benefits. Effective January 1, 2021, certain retired, former non-bargaining employees age 65 and older who are eligible for Entergy-sponsored retiree welfare benefits, and their eligible spouses who are age 65 and older (collectively, Medicare-eligible participants), are eligible to participate in an Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, and are no longer eligible for retiree coverage under the Entergy Corporation Companies’ Benefits Plus Medical, Dental and Vision Plans. Under the Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, Medicare-eligible participants are eligible to participate in a health reimbursement arrangement which they may use towards the purchase of various types of qualified insurance offered through a Medicare exchange provider and for other qualified medical expenses. The changes affecting active bargaining unit employees were negotiated with the unions prior to implementation, where necessary, and to the extent required by law.

Effective January 1, 1993, Entergy adopted an accounting standard requiring a change from a cash method to an accrual method of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas have received regulatory approval to recover accrued other postretirement benefits costs through rates.  The LPSC ordered Entergy Louisiana to continue the use of the pay-as-you-go method for ratemaking purposes for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  However, the LPSC retains the flexibility to examine individual companies’ accounting for other postretirement benefits to determine if special exceptions to this order are warranted. Pursuant to regulatory directives, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy contribute the other postretirement benefits costs collected in rates into external trusts.  System Energy is funding, on behalf of Entergy Operations, other postretirement benefits associated with employees who work or worked at Grand Gulf.

Trust assets contributed by participating Registrant Subsidiaries are in master trusts, established by Entergy Corporation and maintained by a trustee.  Each participating Registrant Subsidiary holds a beneficial interest in the trusts’ assets.  The assets in the master trusts are commingled for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets are commingled, supporting records are maintained for the purpose of allocating the beneficial interest in net earnings/(losses) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts to the various participating plans and participating Registrant Subsidiaries. Beneficial interest in an investment account’s net income/(loss) is comprised of interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and expenses.  Beneficial interest from these

investments is allocated to the plans and participating Registrant Subsidiary based on their portion of net assets in the pooled accounts.

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefits Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or AOCI

Entergy Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs, including amounts capitalized and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$14,654	$24,734	$26,578
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefits obligation (APBO)	42,272	27,306	21,278
Expected return on assets	(36,732)	(43,420)	(43,220)
Amortization of prior service credit	(22,558)	(25,550)	(33,069)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	(11,446)	4,333	2,853
Net other postretirement benefits income	($13,810)	($12,597)	($25,580)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	($4,434)	($858)	($3,168)
Net (gain)/loss	(44,441)	(131,524)	6,210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	22,558	25,550	33,069
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	11,446	(4,333)	(2,853)
Total	($14,871)	($111,165)	$33,258
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($28,681)	($123,762)	$7,678

Total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs of the Registrant Subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized and deferred, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$2,965	$3,379	$878	$235	$809	$754
Interest cost on APBO	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Expected return on assets	(15,113)	—	(4,716)	(5,263)	(8,776)	(2,535)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,096	(3,804)	(955)	(916)	(4,371)	(293)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	171	(7,057)	85	466	914	—
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($1,879)	$1,449	($2,538)	($4,318)	($8,827)	($348)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	$—	($4,434)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	(23,033)	(458)	(6,883)	(7,606)	(8,790)	(3,942)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(2,096)	3,804	955	916	4,371	293
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(171)	7,057	(85)	(466)	(914)	—
Total	($25,300)	$5,969	($6,013)	($7,156)	($5,333)	($3,649)
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($27,179)	$7,418	($8,551)	($11,474)	($14,160)	($3,997)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,457	$5,633	$1,354	$397	$1,322	$1,239
Interest cost on APBO	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Expected return on assets	(17,930)	—	(5,575)	(5,997)	(10,273)	(3,162)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,885	(4,630)	(1,772)	(916)	(4,371)	(319)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	873	(744)	222	(898)	648	121
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($5,665)	$6,029	($4,370)	($6,720)	($11,078)	($1,005)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	$273	$323	($1,300)	$—	$—	$141
Net (gain)/loss	12,894	(65,501)	6,629	17,334	22,323	1,208
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(1,885)	4,630	1,772	916	4,371	319
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(873)	744	(222)	898	(648)	(121)
Total	$10,409	($59,804)	$6,879	$19,148	$26,046	$1,547
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$4,744	($53,775)	$2,509	$12,428	$14,968	$542

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,135	$6,174	$1,448	$437	$1,384	$1,340
Interest cost on APBO	3,726	4,520	1,110	521	1,269	878
Expected return on assets	(18,020)	—	(5,536)	(5,750)	(10,192)	(3,156)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,121)	(4,920)	(1,775)	(916)	(3,742)	(436)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	196	(364)	76	(712)	398	61
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($11,084)	$5,410	($4,677)	($6,420)	($10,883)	($1,313)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	($85)	$357	$—	$—	($3,776)	$69
Net (gain)/loss	9,956	(2,367)	(2,823)	(3,330)	939	210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	1,121	4,920	1,775	916	3,742	436
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(196)	364	(76)	712	(398)	(61)
Total	$10,796	$3,274	($1,124)	($1,702)	$507	$654
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($288)	$8,684	($5,801)	($8,122)	($10,376)	($659)

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Not Yet Recognized and Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$865,854	$1,189,682
Service cost	14,654	24,734
Interest cost	42,272	27,306
Plan amendments	(4,434)	(858)
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Actuarial gain	(4,303)	(297,128)
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	280	264
Balance at December 31	$837,644	$865,854
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$623,824	$771,319
Actual return on plan assets	76,870	(122,184)
Employer contributions	49,126	52,835
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$673,141	$623,824
Funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	($45,706)	($42,484)
Non-current liabilities	(118,797)	(199,546)
Total funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset
Prior service credit	($21,465)	($29,323)
Net (gain)/loss	(33,617)	16,956
	($55,082)	($12,367)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	($34,899)	($45,167)
Net gain	(116,078)	(133,656)
	($150,977)	($178,823)

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Balance Sheets of the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Service cost	2,965	3,379	878	235	809	754
Interest cost	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Plan amendments	—	(4,434)	—	—	—	—
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(6,403)	(458)	(1,650)	(1,676)	337	(1,075)
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	33	46	10	5	11	13
Balance at December 31	$155,987	$170,139	$41,344	$21,685	$51,617	$33,778
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Actual return on plan assets	31,743	—	9,949	11,193	17,903	5,402
Employer contributions	582	20,451	646	213	235	480
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$274,814	$—	$85,662	$100,536	$161,318	$45,402
Funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,049)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	118,827	(155,090)	44,318	78,851	109,701	11,624
Total funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$4,983	$—	($2,682)	($1,982)	($11,790)	($496)
Net loss/(gain)	(17,980)	—	(4,815)	(5,843)	14,542	112
	($12,997)	$—	($7,497)	($7,825)	$2,752	($384)
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,645)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(75,709)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($88,354)	$—	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$221,183	$253,031	$61,001	$31,866	$71,961	$47,875
Service cost	4,457	5,633	1,354	397	1,322	1,239
Interest cost	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Plan amendments	273	323	(1,300)	—	—	141
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Actuarial gain	(54,923)	(65,501)	(14,465)	(6,867)	(16,291)	(10,679)
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	42	57	6	7	16	17
Balance at December 31	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$315,495	$—	$97,888	$111,137	$182,285	$54,650
Actual return on plan assets	(49,887)	—	(15,519)	(18,204)	(28,341)	(8,725)
Employer contributions	1,573	16,187	759	333	(23)	944
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,356)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	91,099	(167,770)	35,131	67,169	95,317	7,160
Total funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$7,079	$—	($3,637)	($2,898)	($16,161)	($789)
Net loss	5,224	—	2,153	2,229	24,246	4,054
	$12,303	$—	($1,484)	($669)	$8,085	$3,265
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,015)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(82,308)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($94,323)	$—	$—	$—	$—

The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to updated demographic assumptions and census data coupled with an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, partially offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by asset losses due to an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets during 2022.

Non-Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy also sponsors non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  Entergy recognized net periodic pension cost related to these plans of $43.8 million in 2023, $30.9 million in 2022, and $28.6 million in 2021.  In 2023, 2022, and 2021, Entergy recognized $27.9 million, $12.2 million, and $10.9 million, respectively, in settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan that is included in the non-qualified pension plan cost above.

The projected benefit obligation was $88.6 million as of December 31, 2023 of which $13.8 million was a current liability and $74.8 million was a non-current liability. The projected benefit obligation was $152.4 million as of December 31, 2022 of which $62.4 million was a current liability and $90 million was a non-current liability.  The accumulated benefit obligation was $77.9 million and $140 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unamortized prior service cost and net loss are recognized in regulatory assets ($29.7 million at December 31, 2023 and $56.8 million at December 31, 2022) and accumulated other comprehensive income before taxes ($3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $8.7 million at December 31, 2022).

A Rabbi Trust was established for the benefit of certain participants in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans. The Rabbi Trust assets were invested in money-market funds which were recorded at fair value with all gains and losses recognized immediately in income. All of the investments were classified as Level 1 investments for purposes of Fair Value Measurements. At December 31, 2022, the fair value of the assets held in the Rabbi Trust was $35 million. In August 2023 the Rabbi Trust assets were used to pay benefits due under the non-qualified pension plans.

The following Registrant Subsidiaries participate in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  The net periodic pension cost for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans for 2023, 2022, and 2021, was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$637	$99	$808	$132	$253
2022	$282	$102	$321	$114	$1,320
2021	$343	$307	$365	$30	$615

Included in the 2023 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $379 thousand and $453 thousand for Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2022 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $1 thousand, $2 thousand, and $1 million for Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2021 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $155 thousand and $172 thousand for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan.

The projected benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$2,313	$2,574	$3,369	$1,034	$3,762
2022	$2,433	$1,197	$3,830	$1,024	$3,850

The accumulated benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$1,935	$2,494	$3,187	$814	$3,701
2022	$2,192	$1,197	$3,594	$719	$3,776

The following amounts were recorded on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($276)	($308)	($474)	($106)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,037)	(2,266)	(2,895)	(928)	(3,314)
Total funded status	($2,313)	($2,574)	($3,369)	($1,034)	($3,762)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$857	$1,604	$1,303	$5	($2,526)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$67	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($234)	($184)	($214)	($32)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,199)	(1,013)	(3,616)	(992)	(3,402)
Total funded status	($2,433)	($1,197)	($3,830)	($1,024)	($3,850)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$512	$119	$1,291	$111	($2,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$5	$—	$—	$—

The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial loss during 2023 primarily as a result of liability losses due to differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions. The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial gain during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions.

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2023:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$14,038	($452)	$13,586
Amortization of gain (loss)	(4,407)	11,590	(593)	6,590
Settlement loss	(7,844)	—	(3,004)	(10,848)
	($12,251)	$25,628	($4,049)	$9,328
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$3,804	$—	$3,804
Amortization of gain (loss)	(792)	7,057	(2)	6,263
Settlement loss	(1,617)	—	—	(1,617)
	($2,409)	$10,861	($2)	$8,450

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2022:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$16,052	($715)	$15,337
Amortization of loss	(30,147)	(2,381)	(1,331)	(33,859)
Settlement loss	(23,636)	—	(1,685)	(25,321)
	($53,783)	$13,671	($3,731)	($43,843)
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$4,630	$—	$4,630
Amortization of gain (loss)	(1,669)	744	(2)	(927)
Settlement loss	(2,342)	—	—	(2,342)
	($4,011)	$5,374	($2)	$1,361

Accounting for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Accounting standards require an employer to recognize in its balance sheet the funded status of its benefit plans.  This is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation.  Entergy uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement plans.  Employers are to record previously unrecognized gains and losses, prior service costs, and any remaining transition asset or obligation (that resulted from adopting prior pension and other postretirement benefits accounting standards) as comprehensive income and/or as a regulatory asset reflective of the recovery mechanism for pension and other postretirement benefits costs in the Registrant Subsidiaries’ respective regulatory jurisdictions.  For the portion of Entergy Louisiana that is not regulated, the unrecognized prior service cost, gains and losses, and transition asset/obligation for its pension and other postretirement benefits obligations are recorded as other comprehensive income.  Entergy Louisiana recovers other postretirement benefits costs on a pay-as-you-go basis and records the unrecognized prior

service cost, gains and losses, and transition obligation for its other postretirement benefits obligation as other comprehensive income.  Accounting standards also require that changes in the funded status be recorded as other comprehensive income and/or a regulatory asset in the period in which the changes occur.

With regard to pension and other postretirement costs, Entergy calculates the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets by multiplying the long-term expected rate of return on assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets.  Entergy determines the MRV of its pension plan assets, except for the long duration fixed income assets, by calculating a value that uses a 20-quarter phase-in of the difference between actual and expected returns. For the long duration fixed income assets in the pension trust and for its other postretirement benefits plan assets Entergy uses fair value as the MRV.

In accordance with ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”, the other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations and are presented by Entergy in miscellaneous - net in other income.

Qualified Pension Settlement Cost

Year-to-date lump sum benefit payments from Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Non-Bargaining Plan II, and Bargaining Plan II exceeded the sum of the Plans’ service and interest cost, resulting in settlement costs during 2023, 2022, and 2021. In accordance with accounting standards, settlement accounting requires immediate recognition of the portion of previously unrecognized losses associated with the settled portion of the plans’ pension liability. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy participate in one or both of Non-Bargaining Plan I and Bargaining Plan I and incurred settlement costs. Similar to other pension costs, the settlement costs were included with employee labor costs and charged to expense and capital in the same manner that labor costs were charged. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans received regulatory approval to defer the expense portion of settlement costs, with future amortization of the deferred settlement expense over the period in which the expense otherwise would be recorded had the immediate recognition not occurred.

Entergy Texas Reserve

In September 2020, Entergy Texas elected to establish a reserve, in accordance with PUCT regulations, to track the surplus or deficit in the annual amount of actuarially determined pension and other postretirement benefits chargeable to Entergy Texas’s expense. The reserve amounts recorded for 2020 and 2021 were included in the base rate case that was filed with the PUCT in July 2022, and amortization of that amount began in 2023 when interim rates became effective. The reserve amounts recorded for 2022 and through December 2023 will be evaluated in the next rate case filed by Entergy Texas, and an amortization period will be determined at that time. At December 31, 2023, the balance in this reserve was approximately $32.7 million.

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Plans’ Assets

The Plan Administrator’s trust asset investment strategy is to invest the assets in a manner whereby long-term earnings on the assets (plus cash contributions) provide adequate funding for retiree benefit payments.  The mix of assets is based on an optimization study that identifies asset allocation targets in order to achieve the maximum return for an acceptable level of risk, while minimizing the expected contributions and pension and postretirement expense.

In the optimization studies, the Plan Administrator formulates assumptions about characteristics, such as expected asset class investment returns, volatility (risk), and correlation coefficients among the various asset classes.  The future market assumptions used in the optimization study are determined by examining historical

market characteristics of the various asset classes and making adjustments to reflect future conditions expected to prevail over the study period.

The target asset allocation for pension adjusts dynamically based on the funded status of each plan within the trust. The current targets are shown below. The expectation is that the allocation to fixed income securities will increase as the pension plans’ funded status increases.  The following ranges were established to produce an acceptable, economically efficient plan to manage around the targets.

For postretirement assets the target and range asset allocations (as shown below) reflect recommendations made in the latest optimization study. The target asset allocations for postretirement assets adjust dynamically based on the funded status of each sub-account within each trust. The current weighted-average targets shown below represent the aggregate of all targets for all sub-accounts within all trusts.

Entergy’s qualified pension and postretirement weighted-average asset allocations by asset category at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the target asset allocation and ranges for 2023 are as follows:

Pension Asset Allocation	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	32%	26%	to	38%	33%	42%
International Equity Securities	17%	14%	to	20%	18%	22%
Intermediate Fixed Income Securities	8%	7%	to	9%	9%	11%
Long Duration Fixed Income Securities	43%	39%	to	47%	40%	22%
Other	—%	—%	to	10%	—%	3%

Postretirement Asset Allocation	Non-Taxable and Taxable
	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	25%	20%	to	30%	28%	25%
International Equity Securities	17%	12%	to	22%	17%	18%
Fixed Income Securities	58%	53%	to	63%	55%	57%
Other	—%	—%	to	5%	—%	—%

In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used in the calculation of benefit plan costs, Entergy reviews past performance, current and expected future asset allocations, and capital market assumptions of its investment consultant and some investment managers.

The expected long-term rate of return for the qualified pension plans’ assets is based primarily on the geometric average of the historical annual performance of a representative portfolio weighted by the target asset allocation defined in the table above, along with other indications of expected return on assets. The time period reflected is a long-dated period spanning several decades.

The expected long-term rate of return for the non-taxable postretirement trust assets is determined using the same methodology described above for pension assets, but the aggregate asset allocation specific to the non-taxable postretirement assets is used.

For the taxable postretirement trust assets, the investment allocation includes tax-exempt fixed income securities.  This asset allocation, in combination with the same methodology employed to determine the expected return for other postretirement assets (as described above), and with a modification to reflect applicable taxes, is used to produce the expected long-term rate of return for taxable postretirement trust assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Entergy’s investment guidelines mandate the avoidance of risk concentrations.  Types of concentrations specified to be avoided include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country, geographic area, and individual security issuance.  As of December 31, 2023, all investment managers and assets were materially in compliance with the approved investment guidelines, therefore there were no significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10 percent of plan assets) of credit risk in Entergy’s pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards provide the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access at the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

•Level 2 - Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are, either directly or indirectly, observable for the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Assets are valued based on prices derived by an independent party that uses inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, and issuer spreads.  Prices are reviewed and can be challenged with the independent parties and/or overridden if it is believed such would be more reflective of fair value.  Level 2 inputs include the following:

-     quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

-     quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

-     inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or

-    inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If an asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•Level 3 - Level 3 refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, a summary of the investments held in the master trusts for Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement plans in which the Registrant Subsidiaries participate.

Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$10,827	(b)	$—		$—	$10,827
Common	715,452	(b)	—		—	715,452
Common collective trusts (c)						2,066,247
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		1,085,231	(a)	—	1,085,231
Corporate debt instruments	—		924,904	(a)	—	924,904
Registered investment companies (e)	34,364	(d)	2,718	(d)	—	657,691
Other	774	(f)	78,883	(f)	—	79,657
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,899	(g)	—	5,899
Total investments	$761,417		$2,097,635		$—	$5,545,908
Cash						1,488
Other pending transactions						(22,404)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(64,391)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,460,601

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$12,178	(b)	$—		$—	$12,178
Common	807,437	(b)	—		—	807,437
Common collective trusts (c)						2,516,688
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		673,348	(a)	—	673,348
Corporate debt instruments	—		525,184	(a)	—	525,184
Registered investment companies (e)	221,582	(d)	2,595	(d)	—	750,454
Other	—		15,395	(f)	—	15,395
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,911	(g)	—	5,911
Total investments	$1,041,197		$1,222,433		$—	$5,306,595
Cash						10,601
Other pending transactions						(13,813)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(61,285)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,242,098

Other Postretirement Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$276,560
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$80,219	(b)	$84,521	(a)	$—	164,740
Corporate debt instruments	—		106,523	(a)	—	106,523
Registered investment companies	548	(d)	—		—	548
Other	—		57,511	(f)	—	57,511
Total investments	$80,767		$248,555		$—	$605,882
Other pending transactions						2,868
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						64,391
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$673,141

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$241,676
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$69,503	(b)	$78,436	(a)	$—	147,939
Corporate debt instruments	—		113,273	(a)	—	113,273
Registered investment companies	3,016	(d)	—		—	3,016
Other	—		56,149	(f)	—	56,149
Total investments	$72,519		$247,858		$—	$562,053
Other pending transactions						486
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						61,285
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$623,824

(a)Certain fixed income debt securities (corporate, government, and securitized) are stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(b)Common stocks, preferred stocks, and certain fixed income debt securities (government) are stated at fair value determined by quoted market prices.

(c)The common collective trusts hold investments in accordance with stated objectives.  The investment strategy of the trusts is to capture the growth potential of equity markets by replicating the performance of a specified index.  The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Net asset value per share of common collective trusts estimate fair value. Common collective trusts are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(d)Registered investment companies are money market mutual funds with a stable net asset value of one dollar per share. Registered investment companies may hold investments in domestic and international bond markets or domestic equities valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The money market mutual funds held by the trusts are deemed to be actively traded. Certain registered investment companies are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.

(e)Certain of these registered investment companies are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(f)The other remaining assets are U.S. municipal and foreign government bonds stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(g)The unallocated insurance contract investments are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.  The contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest, less funds used to pay benefits and contract expenses, and less distributions to the master trust.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Based upon the assumptions used to measure Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement benefits obligations at December 31, 2023, and including pension and other postretirement benefits attributable to estimated future employee service, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries will be as follows:

	Estimated Future Benefits Payments
	Qualified Pension	Non-Qualified Pension	Other Postretirement
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$463,557	$13,802	$74,649
2025	$449,803	$10,894	$70,720
2026	$450,945	$8,507	$67,105
2027	$449,510	$14,374	$63,949
2028	$450,827	$9,325	$61,234
2029 - 2033	$2,222,959	$36,584	$283,477

Based upon the same assumptions, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees will be as follows:

Estimated Future Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$90,682	$95,706	$25,534	$11,300	$21,807	$24,163
2025	$89,113	$92,420	$24,816	$10,799	$21,019	$22,053
2026	$88,427	$92,499	$25,210	$10,910	$21,268	$21,612
2027	$87,845	$91,485	$24,686	$10,566	$20,407	$22,665
2028	$87,719	$91,450	$24,147	$10,458	$20,074	$22,107
2029 - 2033	$429,882	$444,131	$115,629	$48,870	$92,182	$109,712

Estimated Future Non-Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$276	$308	$474	$106	$448
2025	$474	$301	$547	$143	$423
2026	$160	$288	$461	$139	$445
2027	$149	$265	$642	$224	$395
2028	$288	$270	$395	$141	$369
2029 - 2033	$938	$941	$1,326	$529	$1,524

Estimated Future Other Postretirement Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$13,697	$15,049	$3,521	$2,200	$5,187	$2,811
2025	$12,913	$14,380	$3,386	$2,086	$4,874	$2,668
2026	$12,342	$13,676	$3,256	$1,942	$4,436	$2,434
2027	$11,767	$13,037	$3,126	$1,785	$4,215	$2,320
2028	$11,424	$12,348	$3,121	$1,640	$3,937	$2,266
2029 - 2033	$54,789	$57,264	$14,563	$7,297	$17,857	$11,270

Contributions

Entergy currently expects to contribute approximately $270 million to its qualified pension plans and approximately $45.9 million to other postretirement plans in 2024.  The expected 2024 pension and other postretirement plan contributions of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their employees are shown below.  The 2024 required pension contributions will be known with more certainty when the January 1, 2024 valuations are completed, which is expected by April 1, 2024.

The Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute approximately the following to the qualified pension and other postretirement plans for their current and former employees in 2024:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Pension Contributions	$55,112	$48,401	$14,980	$4,931	$8,272	$16,650
Other Postretirement Contributions	$529	$15,049	$178	$205	$156	$34

Actuarial Assumptions

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the pension PBO and the other postretirement benefits APBO as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	2023	2022
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension	5.02% - 5.10% Blended 5.06%	5.21% - 5.27% Blended 5.24%
Other postretirement	5.01%	5.20%
Non-qualified pension	4.68%	4.98%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Interest crediting rate	4.00%	4.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.95%	6.65%
Post-65	7.88%	7.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032
Post-65	2032	2032

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension and other postretirement benefits costs for 2023, 2022, and 2021 were as follows:

	2023	2022	2021
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension:
Service cost	5.26%	3.07%	2.81%
Interest cost	5.16%	2.49%	2.08%
Other postretirement:
Service cost	5.00%	3.20%	2.98%
Interest cost	5.09%	2.31%	1.86%
Non-qualified pension:
Service cost	5.31%	4.94%	1.48%
Interest cost	5.30%	5.03%	2.14%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets:
Pension assets	7.00%	6.75%	6.75%
Other postretirement non-taxable assets	6.00% - 7.00%	5.75% - 6.75%	6.00% - 6.75%
Other postretirement taxable assets	5.25%	4.75%	5.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.65%	5.65%	5.87%
Post-65	7.50%	5.90%	6.31%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032	2030
Post-65	2032	2032	2028

With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 other postretirement benefits APBO. With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 other postretirement benefits APBO.

Defined Contribution Plans

Entergy sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (System Savings Plan).  The System Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan covering eligible employees of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to the System Savings Plan for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to either 70% or 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 6% of their eligible earnings per pay period.  The matching contribution is allocated to investments as directed by the employee.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VI (Savings Plan VI) (established in April 2007) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VII (Savings Plan VII)

(established in April 2007) to which matching contributions are also made.  The plans are defined contribution plans that cover eligible employees, as defined by each plan, of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2023, employees participating in Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII were transferred into the System Savings Plan when Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII merged into the System Savings Plan.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VIII (established January 2021) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries IX (established January 2021) to which company contributions are made. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to these defined contribution plans for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 5% of their eligible earnings per pay period. Eligible participants may also receive a discretionary annual company contribution up to 4% of the participant’s eligible earnings (subject to vesting).

Entergy’s subsidiaries’ contributions to defined contribution plans collectively were $65.1 million in 2023, $62.1 million in 2022, and $62.3 million in 2021.  The majority of the contributions were to the System Savings Plan.

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ 2023, 2022, and 2021 contributions to defined contribution plans for their employees were as follows:

Year	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$5,866	$7,757	$3,534	$1,383	$3,380
2022	$5,124	$7,138	$3,194	$1,223	$2,938
2021	$4,820	$6,678	$3,045	$1,140	$2,699

Entergy Mississippi [Member]

Retirement Benefits [Text Block]

RETIREMENT, OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy has defined benefit qualified pension plans, including the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III (Plan III), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Bargaining Employees, and the Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Cash Balance Plan).  The Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan) was merged with and into Non-Bargaining Plan I effective January 1, 2022. Effective January 1, 2024, Non-Bargaining Plan I was amended to spin-off predominately inactive participants into a new qualified pension plan, Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan VI for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan VI). The Registrant Subsidiaries participate in these plans: Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Plan III, Non-Bargaining Plan VI, and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire was prior to June 30, 2014 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) participate in a noncontributory final average pay formula that provides pension benefits based on the employee’s credited service and compensation during employment. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire is after June 30, 2014 and before January 1, 2021 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) do not participate in a final average pay formula, but instead participate in a cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2021, the Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan were amended to close participation in each plan to those employees whose most recent hire date is after December 31, 2020 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement). Employees hired after this date instead may be eligible to participate in and receive a discretionary employer contribution under an Entergy sponsored tax-qualified defined contribution plan that includes a 401(k) feature.

The assets of the defined benefit qualified pension plans are held in a master trust established by Entergy. Each pension plan has an undivided beneficial interest in each of the investment accounts in the master trust that is maintained by a trustee.  Use of the master trust permits the commingling of the trust assets of the pension plans of Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets in the master trust are commingled, the trustee maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the trust level equity in net earnings (loss) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts in the trust to the various participating pension plans in the trust.  The fair value of the trust’s assets is determined by the trustee and certain investment managers.  The trustee calculates a daily earnings factor, including realized and unrealized gains or losses, collected and accrued income, and administrative expenses, and allocates earnings to each plan in the master trust on a pro rata basis.

Within each pension plan, the record of each Registrant Subsidiary’s beneficial interest in the plan assets is maintained by the plan’s actuary and is updated quarterly.  Assets for each Registrant Subsidiary are increased for investment net income and contributions and are decreased for benefit payments.  A plan’s investment net income/loss (i.e., interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses) is allocated to the Registrant Subsidiaries participating in that plan based on the value of assets for each Registrant Subsidiary at the beginning of the quarter adjusted for contributions and benefit payments made during the quarter.

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries fund pension plans in an amount not less than the minimum required contribution under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The assets of the plans include common and preferred stocks, fixed-income securities, interest in a money market fund, and insurance contracts.  The Registrant Subsidiaries’ pension costs are recovered from customers as a component of cost of service in each of their respective jurisdictions.

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$101,182	$138,085	$165,278
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	298,281	235,805	191,107
Expected return on assets	(388,030)	(402,504)	(424,572)
Recognized net loss	81,919	188,683	334,124
Settlement charges	160,387	230,389	205,878
Net pension cost	$253,739	$390,458	$471,815
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	($213,636)	$6,113	($448,532)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(81,919)	(188,683)	(334,124)
Settlement charge	(160,387)	(230,389)	(205,878)
Total	($455,942)	($412,959)	($988,534)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($202,203)	($22,501)	($516,719)

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$18,461	$24,716	$5,775	$1,955	$4,328	$5,749
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Expected return on assets	(70,574)	(75,757)	(19,423)	(8,798)	(16,641)	(17,585)
Recognized net loss	19,400	19,797	5,719	1,694	4,075	4,236
Settlement charges	26,137	40,437	12,242	2,080	11,230	6,375
Net pension cost	$49,450	$69,539	$19,715	$3,678	$15,718	$12,627
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($30,674)	($71,016)	($20,220)	($3,183)	($16,759)	($3,268)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(19,400)	(19,797)	(5,719)	(1,694)	(4,075)	(4,236)
Settlement charge	(26,137)	(40,437)	(12,242)	(2,080)	(11,230)	(6,375)
Total	($76,211)	($131,250)	($38,181)	($6,957)	($32,064)	($13,879)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($26,761)	($61,711)	($18,466)	($3,279)	($16,346)	($1,252)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$25,210	$33,520	$8,043	$2,745	$5,999	$7,746
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Expected return on assets	(75,820)	(82,478)	(20,168)	(9,920)	(18,317)	(18,173)
Recognized net loss	43,597	41,711	12,594	4,787	9,013	10,938
Settlement charges	36,409	58,550	15,786	6,676	22,411	9,905
Net pension cost	$74,774	$100,633	$29,234	$9,779	$29,835	$21,702
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	$28,365	($15,604)	($4,743)	$525	$13,363	($7,063)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(43,597)	(41,711)	(12,594)	(4,787)	(9,013)	(10,938)
Settlement charge	(36,409)	(58,550)	(15,786)	(6,676)	(22,411)	(9,905)
Total	($51,641)	($115,865)	($33,123)	($10,938)	($18,061)	($27,906)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$23,133	($15,232)	($3,889)	($1,159)	$11,774	($6,204)

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$28,632	$38,271	$9,070	$3,038	$6,921	$8,851
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	35,683	39,740	10,446	4,392	8,381	9,087
Expected return on assets	(78,368)	(89,821)	(22,407)	(10,598)	(21,158)	(19,254)
Recognized net loss	69,290	67,015	20,007	7,596	12,676	18,404
Settlement charges	37,682	61,945	16,710	5,431	11,797	12,260
Net pension cost	$92,919	$117,150	$33,826	$9,859	$18,617	$29,348
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($96,066)	($89,534)	($29,675)	($16,159)	($18,217)	($27,617)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(69,290)	(67,015)	(20,007)	(7,596)	(12,676)	(18,404)
Settlement charge	(37,682)	(61,945)	(16,710)	(5,431)	(11,797)	(12,260)
Total	($203,038)	($218,494)	($66,392)	($29,186)	($42,690)	($58,281)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($110,119)	($101,344)	($32,566)	($19,327)	($24,073)	($28,933)

Qualified Pension Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$6,166,106	$8,409,620
Service cost	101,182	138,085
Interest cost	298,281	235,805
Actuarial (gain)/loss	123,237	(1,660,463)
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Balance at December 31	$5,915,404	$6,166,106
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$5,242,098	$6,993,110
Actual return on plan assets	724,903	(1,264,071)
Employer contributions	267,002	470,000
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$5,460,601	$5,242,098
Funded status	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset
Net loss	$1,447,978	$1,842,348
Amount recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$347,268	$408,839

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets for the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Service cost	18,461	24,716	5,775	1,955	4,328	5,749
Interest cost	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Actuarial (gain)/loss	39,643	1,925	(328)	4,590	(1,416)	14,522
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Balance at December 31	$1,117,585	$1,173,283	$295,942	$133,950	$239,984	$286,558
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Actual return on plan assets	140,891	148,698	39,315	16,571	31,984	35,375
Employer contributions	54,468	44,565	21,110	1,420	5,314	15,543
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$991,894	$1,058,711	$280,260	$117,923	$222,496	$255,443
Funded status	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$485,113	$319,116	$102,208	$44,911	$63,665	$111,996
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$13,296	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($68.7) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($103.1) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($31.4) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($5.3) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($29.4) million at Entergy Texas, and ($16.7) million at System Energy.

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,579,346	$1,736,396	$448,858	$195,380	$371,802	$394,794
Service cost	25,210	33,520	8,043	2,745	5,999	7,746
Interest cost	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Actuarial gain	(280,691)	(357,572)	(88,303)	(40,462)	(65,795)	(81,504)
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Balance at December 31	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$1,302,588	$1,446,658	$356,424	$172,366	$341,915	$312,060
Actual return on plan assets	(233,236)	(259,490)	(63,392)	(31,067)	(60,841)	(56,267)
Employer contributions	92,971	53,658	33,287	1,129	2,513	28,619
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Funded status	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$561,323	$445,116	$140,389	$51,868	$95,729	$125,876
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$18,546	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($96) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($146.6) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($48) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($16.2) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($48.9) million at Entergy Texas, and ($23.5) million at System Energy.

The qualified pension plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to asset gains resulting from an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The qualified pension plans incurred a small net actuarial loss during 2022 primarily due to asset losses resulting from an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets, substantially offset by liability gains due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations.

Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation

The accumulated benefit obligation for Entergy’s qualified pension plans was $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The qualified pension accumulated benefit obligation for each of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Entergy Arkansas	$1,048,901	$1,008,152
Entergy Louisiana	$1,085,318	$1,146,561
Entergy Mississippi	$273,338	$292,596
Entergy New Orleans	$125,878	$128,499
Entergy Texas	$225,379	$245,428
System Energy	$267,432	$269,583

Other Postretirement Benefits

Entergy also currently offers retiree medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits (other postretirement benefits) for eligible retired employees.  Employees who commenced employment before July 1, 2014 and who satisfy certain eligibility requirements (including retiring from Entergy after a certain age and/or years of service with Entergy and immediately commencing their Entergy pension benefit), may become eligible for other postretirement benefits.

In March 2020, Entergy announced changes to its other postretirement benefits. Effective January 1, 2021, certain retired, former non-bargaining employees age 65 and older who are eligible for Entergy-sponsored retiree welfare benefits, and their eligible spouses who are age 65 and older (collectively, Medicare-eligible participants), are eligible to participate in an Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, and are no longer eligible for retiree coverage under the Entergy Corporation Companies’ Benefits Plus Medical, Dental and Vision Plans. Under the Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, Medicare-eligible participants are eligible to participate in a health reimbursement arrangement which they may use towards the purchase of various types of qualified insurance offered through a Medicare exchange provider and for other qualified medical expenses. The changes affecting active bargaining unit employees were negotiated with the unions prior to implementation, where necessary, and to the extent required by law.

Effective January 1, 1993, Entergy adopted an accounting standard requiring a change from a cash method to an accrual method of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas have received regulatory approval to recover accrued other postretirement benefits costs through rates.  The LPSC ordered Entergy Louisiana to continue the use of the pay-as-you-go method for ratemaking purposes for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  However, the LPSC retains the flexibility to examine individual companies’ accounting for other postretirement benefits to determine if special exceptions to this order are warranted. Pursuant to regulatory directives, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy contribute the other postretirement benefits costs collected in rates into external trusts.  System Energy is funding, on behalf of Entergy Operations, other postretirement benefits associated with employees who work or worked at Grand Gulf.

Trust assets contributed by participating Registrant Subsidiaries are in master trusts, established by Entergy Corporation and maintained by a trustee.  Each participating Registrant Subsidiary holds a beneficial interest in the trusts’ assets.  The assets in the master trusts are commingled for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets are commingled, supporting records are maintained for the purpose of allocating the beneficial interest in net earnings/(losses) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts to the various participating plans and participating Registrant Subsidiaries. Beneficial interest in an investment account’s net income/(loss) is comprised of interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and expenses.  Beneficial interest from these

investments is allocated to the plans and participating Registrant Subsidiary based on their portion of net assets in the pooled accounts.

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefits Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or AOCI

Entergy Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs, including amounts capitalized and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$14,654	$24,734	$26,578
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefits obligation (APBO)	42,272	27,306	21,278
Expected return on assets	(36,732)	(43,420)	(43,220)
Amortization of prior service credit	(22,558)	(25,550)	(33,069)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	(11,446)	4,333	2,853
Net other postretirement benefits income	($13,810)	($12,597)	($25,580)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	($4,434)	($858)	($3,168)
Net (gain)/loss	(44,441)	(131,524)	6,210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	22,558	25,550	33,069
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	11,446	(4,333)	(2,853)
Total	($14,871)	($111,165)	$33,258
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($28,681)	($123,762)	$7,678

Total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs of the Registrant Subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized and deferred, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$2,965	$3,379	$878	$235	$809	$754
Interest cost on APBO	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Expected return on assets	(15,113)	—	(4,716)	(5,263)	(8,776)	(2,535)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,096	(3,804)	(955)	(916)	(4,371)	(293)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	171	(7,057)	85	466	914	—
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($1,879)	$1,449	($2,538)	($4,318)	($8,827)	($348)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	$—	($4,434)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	(23,033)	(458)	(6,883)	(7,606)	(8,790)	(3,942)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(2,096)	3,804	955	916	4,371	293
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(171)	7,057	(85)	(466)	(914)	—
Total	($25,300)	$5,969	($6,013)	($7,156)	($5,333)	($3,649)
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($27,179)	$7,418	($8,551)	($11,474)	($14,160)	($3,997)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,457	$5,633	$1,354	$397	$1,322	$1,239
Interest cost on APBO	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Expected return on assets	(17,930)	—	(5,575)	(5,997)	(10,273)	(3,162)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,885	(4,630)	(1,772)	(916)	(4,371)	(319)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	873	(744)	222	(898)	648	121
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($5,665)	$6,029	($4,370)	($6,720)	($11,078)	($1,005)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	$273	$323	($1,300)	$—	$—	$141
Net (gain)/loss	12,894	(65,501)	6,629	17,334	22,323	1,208
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(1,885)	4,630	1,772	916	4,371	319
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(873)	744	(222)	898	(648)	(121)
Total	$10,409	($59,804)	$6,879	$19,148	$26,046	$1,547
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$4,744	($53,775)	$2,509	$12,428	$14,968	$542

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,135	$6,174	$1,448	$437	$1,384	$1,340
Interest cost on APBO	3,726	4,520	1,110	521	1,269	878
Expected return on assets	(18,020)	—	(5,536)	(5,750)	(10,192)	(3,156)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,121)	(4,920)	(1,775)	(916)	(3,742)	(436)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	196	(364)	76	(712)	398	61
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($11,084)	$5,410	($4,677)	($6,420)	($10,883)	($1,313)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	($85)	$357	$—	$—	($3,776)	$69
Net (gain)/loss	9,956	(2,367)	(2,823)	(3,330)	939	210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	1,121	4,920	1,775	916	3,742	436
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(196)	364	(76)	712	(398)	(61)
Total	$10,796	$3,274	($1,124)	($1,702)	$507	$654
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($288)	$8,684	($5,801)	($8,122)	($10,376)	($659)

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Not Yet Recognized and Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$865,854	$1,189,682
Service cost	14,654	24,734
Interest cost	42,272	27,306
Plan amendments	(4,434)	(858)
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Actuarial gain	(4,303)	(297,128)
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	280	264
Balance at December 31	$837,644	$865,854
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$623,824	$771,319
Actual return on plan assets	76,870	(122,184)
Employer contributions	49,126	52,835
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$673,141	$623,824
Funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	($45,706)	($42,484)
Non-current liabilities	(118,797)	(199,546)
Total funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset
Prior service credit	($21,465)	($29,323)
Net (gain)/loss	(33,617)	16,956
	($55,082)	($12,367)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	($34,899)	($45,167)
Net gain	(116,078)	(133,656)
	($150,977)	($178,823)

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Balance Sheets of the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Service cost	2,965	3,379	878	235	809	754
Interest cost	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Plan amendments	—	(4,434)	—	—	—	—
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(6,403)	(458)	(1,650)	(1,676)	337	(1,075)
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	33	46	10	5	11	13
Balance at December 31	$155,987	$170,139	$41,344	$21,685	$51,617	$33,778
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Actual return on plan assets	31,743	—	9,949	11,193	17,903	5,402
Employer contributions	582	20,451	646	213	235	480
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$274,814	$—	$85,662	$100,536	$161,318	$45,402
Funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,049)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	118,827	(155,090)	44,318	78,851	109,701	11,624
Total funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$4,983	$—	($2,682)	($1,982)	($11,790)	($496)
Net loss/(gain)	(17,980)	—	(4,815)	(5,843)	14,542	112
	($12,997)	$—	($7,497)	($7,825)	$2,752	($384)
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,645)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(75,709)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($88,354)	$—	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$221,183	$253,031	$61,001	$31,866	$71,961	$47,875
Service cost	4,457	5,633	1,354	397	1,322	1,239
Interest cost	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Plan amendments	273	323	(1,300)	—	—	141
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Actuarial gain	(54,923)	(65,501)	(14,465)	(6,867)	(16,291)	(10,679)
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	42	57	6	7	16	17
Balance at December 31	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$315,495	$—	$97,888	$111,137	$182,285	$54,650
Actual return on plan assets	(49,887)	—	(15,519)	(18,204)	(28,341)	(8,725)
Employer contributions	1,573	16,187	759	333	(23)	944
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,356)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	91,099	(167,770)	35,131	67,169	95,317	7,160
Total funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$7,079	$—	($3,637)	($2,898)	($16,161)	($789)
Net loss	5,224	—	2,153	2,229	24,246	4,054
	$12,303	$—	($1,484)	($669)	$8,085	$3,265
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,015)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(82,308)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($94,323)	$—	$—	$—	$—

The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to updated demographic assumptions and census data coupled with an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, partially offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by asset losses due to an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets during 2022.

Non-Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy also sponsors non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  Entergy recognized net periodic pension cost related to these plans of $43.8 million in 2023, $30.9 million in 2022, and $28.6 million in 2021.  In 2023, 2022, and 2021, Entergy recognized $27.9 million, $12.2 million, and $10.9 million, respectively, in settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan that is included in the non-qualified pension plan cost above.

The projected benefit obligation was $88.6 million as of December 31, 2023 of which $13.8 million was a current liability and $74.8 million was a non-current liability. The projected benefit obligation was $152.4 million as of December 31, 2022 of which $62.4 million was a current liability and $90 million was a non-current liability.  The accumulated benefit obligation was $77.9 million and $140 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unamortized prior service cost and net loss are recognized in regulatory assets ($29.7 million at December 31, 2023 and $56.8 million at December 31, 2022) and accumulated other comprehensive income before taxes ($3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $8.7 million at December 31, 2022).

A Rabbi Trust was established for the benefit of certain participants in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans. The Rabbi Trust assets were invested in money-market funds which were recorded at fair value with all gains and losses recognized immediately in income. All of the investments were classified as Level 1 investments for purposes of Fair Value Measurements. At December 31, 2022, the fair value of the assets held in the Rabbi Trust was $35 million. In August 2023 the Rabbi Trust assets were used to pay benefits due under the non-qualified pension plans.

The following Registrant Subsidiaries participate in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  The net periodic pension cost for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans for 2023, 2022, and 2021, was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$637	$99	$808	$132	$253
2022	$282	$102	$321	$114	$1,320
2021	$343	$307	$365	$30	$615

Included in the 2023 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $379 thousand and $453 thousand for Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2022 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $1 thousand, $2 thousand, and $1 million for Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2021 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $155 thousand and $172 thousand for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan.

The projected benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$2,313	$2,574	$3,369	$1,034	$3,762
2022	$2,433	$1,197	$3,830	$1,024	$3,850

The accumulated benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$1,935	$2,494	$3,187	$814	$3,701
2022	$2,192	$1,197	$3,594	$719	$3,776

The following amounts were recorded on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($276)	($308)	($474)	($106)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,037)	(2,266)	(2,895)	(928)	(3,314)
Total funded status	($2,313)	($2,574)	($3,369)	($1,034)	($3,762)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$857	$1,604	$1,303	$5	($2,526)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$67	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($234)	($184)	($214)	($32)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,199)	(1,013)	(3,616)	(992)	(3,402)
Total funded status	($2,433)	($1,197)	($3,830)	($1,024)	($3,850)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$512	$119	$1,291	$111	($2,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$5	$—	$—	$—

The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial loss during 2023 primarily as a result of liability losses due to differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions. The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial gain during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions.

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2023:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$14,038	($452)	$13,586
Amortization of gain (loss)	(4,407)	11,590	(593)	6,590
Settlement loss	(7,844)	—	(3,004)	(10,848)
	($12,251)	$25,628	($4,049)	$9,328
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$3,804	$—	$3,804
Amortization of gain (loss)	(792)	7,057	(2)	6,263
Settlement loss	(1,617)	—	—	(1,617)
	($2,409)	$10,861	($2)	$8,450

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2022:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$16,052	($715)	$15,337
Amortization of loss	(30,147)	(2,381)	(1,331)	(33,859)
Settlement loss	(23,636)	—	(1,685)	(25,321)
	($53,783)	$13,671	($3,731)	($43,843)
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$4,630	$—	$4,630
Amortization of gain (loss)	(1,669)	744	(2)	(927)
Settlement loss	(2,342)	—	—	(2,342)
	($4,011)	$5,374	($2)	$1,361

Accounting for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Accounting standards require an employer to recognize in its balance sheet the funded status of its benefit plans.  This is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation.  Entergy uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement plans.  Employers are to record previously unrecognized gains and losses, prior service costs, and any remaining transition asset or obligation (that resulted from adopting prior pension and other postretirement benefits accounting standards) as comprehensive income and/or as a regulatory asset reflective of the recovery mechanism for pension and other postretirement benefits costs in the Registrant Subsidiaries’ respective regulatory jurisdictions.  For the portion of Entergy Louisiana that is not regulated, the unrecognized prior service cost, gains and losses, and transition asset/obligation for its pension and other postretirement benefits obligations are recorded as other comprehensive income.  Entergy Louisiana recovers other postretirement benefits costs on a pay-as-you-go basis and records the unrecognized prior

service cost, gains and losses, and transition obligation for its other postretirement benefits obligation as other comprehensive income.  Accounting standards also require that changes in the funded status be recorded as other comprehensive income and/or a regulatory asset in the period in which the changes occur.

With regard to pension and other postretirement costs, Entergy calculates the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets by multiplying the long-term expected rate of return on assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets.  Entergy determines the MRV of its pension plan assets, except for the long duration fixed income assets, by calculating a value that uses a 20-quarter phase-in of the difference between actual and expected returns. For the long duration fixed income assets in the pension trust and for its other postretirement benefits plan assets Entergy uses fair value as the MRV.

In accordance with ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”, the other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations and are presented by Entergy in miscellaneous - net in other income.

Qualified Pension Settlement Cost

Year-to-date lump sum benefit payments from Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Non-Bargaining Plan II, and Bargaining Plan II exceeded the sum of the Plans’ service and interest cost, resulting in settlement costs during 2023, 2022, and 2021. In accordance with accounting standards, settlement accounting requires immediate recognition of the portion of previously unrecognized losses associated with the settled portion of the plans’ pension liability. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy participate in one or both of Non-Bargaining Plan I and Bargaining Plan I and incurred settlement costs. Similar to other pension costs, the settlement costs were included with employee labor costs and charged to expense and capital in the same manner that labor costs were charged. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans received regulatory approval to defer the expense portion of settlement costs, with future amortization of the deferred settlement expense over the period in which the expense otherwise would be recorded had the immediate recognition not occurred.

Entergy Texas Reserve

In September 2020, Entergy Texas elected to establish a reserve, in accordance with PUCT regulations, to track the surplus or deficit in the annual amount of actuarially determined pension and other postretirement benefits chargeable to Entergy Texas’s expense. The reserve amounts recorded for 2020 and 2021 were included in the base rate case that was filed with the PUCT in July 2022, and amortization of that amount began in 2023 when interim rates became effective. The reserve amounts recorded for 2022 and through December 2023 will be evaluated in the next rate case filed by Entergy Texas, and an amortization period will be determined at that time. At December 31, 2023, the balance in this reserve was approximately $32.7 million.

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Plans’ Assets

The Plan Administrator’s trust asset investment strategy is to invest the assets in a manner whereby long-term earnings on the assets (plus cash contributions) provide adequate funding for retiree benefit payments.  The mix of assets is based on an optimization study that identifies asset allocation targets in order to achieve the maximum return for an acceptable level of risk, while minimizing the expected contributions and pension and postretirement expense.

In the optimization studies, the Plan Administrator formulates assumptions about characteristics, such as expected asset class investment returns, volatility (risk), and correlation coefficients among the various asset classes.  The future market assumptions used in the optimization study are determined by examining historical

market characteristics of the various asset classes and making adjustments to reflect future conditions expected to prevail over the study period.

The target asset allocation for pension adjusts dynamically based on the funded status of each plan within the trust. The current targets are shown below. The expectation is that the allocation to fixed income securities will increase as the pension plans’ funded status increases.  The following ranges were established to produce an acceptable, economically efficient plan to manage around the targets.

For postretirement assets the target and range asset allocations (as shown below) reflect recommendations made in the latest optimization study. The target asset allocations for postretirement assets adjust dynamically based on the funded status of each sub-account within each trust. The current weighted-average targets shown below represent the aggregate of all targets for all sub-accounts within all trusts.

Entergy’s qualified pension and postretirement weighted-average asset allocations by asset category at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the target asset allocation and ranges for 2023 are as follows:

Pension Asset Allocation	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	32%	26%	to	38%	33%	42%
International Equity Securities	17%	14%	to	20%	18%	22%
Intermediate Fixed Income Securities	8%	7%	to	9%	9%	11%
Long Duration Fixed Income Securities	43%	39%	to	47%	40%	22%
Other	—%	—%	to	10%	—%	3%

Postretirement Asset Allocation	Non-Taxable and Taxable
	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	25%	20%	to	30%	28%	25%
International Equity Securities	17%	12%	to	22%	17%	18%
Fixed Income Securities	58%	53%	to	63%	55%	57%
Other	—%	—%	to	5%	—%	—%

In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used in the calculation of benefit plan costs, Entergy reviews past performance, current and expected future asset allocations, and capital market assumptions of its investment consultant and some investment managers.

The expected long-term rate of return for the qualified pension plans’ assets is based primarily on the geometric average of the historical annual performance of a representative portfolio weighted by the target asset allocation defined in the table above, along with other indications of expected return on assets. The time period reflected is a long-dated period spanning several decades.

The expected long-term rate of return for the non-taxable postretirement trust assets is determined using the same methodology described above for pension assets, but the aggregate asset allocation specific to the non-taxable postretirement assets is used.

For the taxable postretirement trust assets, the investment allocation includes tax-exempt fixed income securities.  This asset allocation, in combination with the same methodology employed to determine the expected return for other postretirement assets (as described above), and with a modification to reflect applicable taxes, is used to produce the expected long-term rate of return for taxable postretirement trust assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Entergy’s investment guidelines mandate the avoidance of risk concentrations.  Types of concentrations specified to be avoided include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country, geographic area, and individual security issuance.  As of December 31, 2023, all investment managers and assets were materially in compliance with the approved investment guidelines, therefore there were no significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10 percent of plan assets) of credit risk in Entergy’s pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards provide the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access at the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

•Level 2 - Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are, either directly or indirectly, observable for the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Assets are valued based on prices derived by an independent party that uses inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, and issuer spreads.  Prices are reviewed and can be challenged with the independent parties and/or overridden if it is believed such would be more reflective of fair value.  Level 2 inputs include the following:

-     quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

-     quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

-     inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or

-    inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If an asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•Level 3 - Level 3 refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, a summary of the investments held in the master trusts for Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement plans in which the Registrant Subsidiaries participate.

Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$10,827	(b)	$—		$—	$10,827
Common	715,452	(b)	—		—	715,452
Common collective trusts (c)						2,066,247
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		1,085,231	(a)	—	1,085,231
Corporate debt instruments	—		924,904	(a)	—	924,904
Registered investment companies (e)	34,364	(d)	2,718	(d)	—	657,691
Other	774	(f)	78,883	(f)	—	79,657
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,899	(g)	—	5,899
Total investments	$761,417		$2,097,635		$—	$5,545,908
Cash						1,488
Other pending transactions						(22,404)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(64,391)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,460,601

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$12,178	(b)	$—		$—	$12,178
Common	807,437	(b)	—		—	807,437
Common collective trusts (c)						2,516,688
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		673,348	(a)	—	673,348
Corporate debt instruments	—		525,184	(a)	—	525,184
Registered investment companies (e)	221,582	(d)	2,595	(d)	—	750,454
Other	—		15,395	(f)	—	15,395
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,911	(g)	—	5,911
Total investments	$1,041,197		$1,222,433		$—	$5,306,595
Cash						10,601
Other pending transactions						(13,813)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(61,285)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,242,098

Other Postretirement Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$276,560
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$80,219	(b)	$84,521	(a)	$—	164,740
Corporate debt instruments	—		106,523	(a)	—	106,523
Registered investment companies	548	(d)	—		—	548
Other	—		57,511	(f)	—	57,511
Total investments	$80,767		$248,555		$—	$605,882
Other pending transactions						2,868
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						64,391
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$673,141

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$241,676
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$69,503	(b)	$78,436	(a)	$—	147,939
Corporate debt instruments	—		113,273	(a)	—	113,273
Registered investment companies	3,016	(d)	—		—	3,016
Other	—		56,149	(f)	—	56,149
Total investments	$72,519		$247,858		$—	$562,053
Other pending transactions						486
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						61,285
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$623,824

(a)Certain fixed income debt securities (corporate, government, and securitized) are stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(b)Common stocks, preferred stocks, and certain fixed income debt securities (government) are stated at fair value determined by quoted market prices.

(c)The common collective trusts hold investments in accordance with stated objectives.  The investment strategy of the trusts is to capture the growth potential of equity markets by replicating the performance of a specified index.  The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Net asset value per share of common collective trusts estimate fair value. Common collective trusts are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(d)Registered investment companies are money market mutual funds with a stable net asset value of one dollar per share. Registered investment companies may hold investments in domestic and international bond markets or domestic equities valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The money market mutual funds held by the trusts are deemed to be actively traded. Certain registered investment companies are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.

(e)Certain of these registered investment companies are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(f)The other remaining assets are U.S. municipal and foreign government bonds stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(g)The unallocated insurance contract investments are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.  The contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest, less funds used to pay benefits and contract expenses, and less distributions to the master trust.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Based upon the assumptions used to measure Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement benefits obligations at December 31, 2023, and including pension and other postretirement benefits attributable to estimated future employee service, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries will be as follows:

	Estimated Future Benefits Payments
	Qualified Pension	Non-Qualified Pension	Other Postretirement
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$463,557	$13,802	$74,649
2025	$449,803	$10,894	$70,720
2026	$450,945	$8,507	$67,105
2027	$449,510	$14,374	$63,949
2028	$450,827	$9,325	$61,234
2029 - 2033	$2,222,959	$36,584	$283,477

Based upon the same assumptions, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees will be as follows:

Estimated Future Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$90,682	$95,706	$25,534	$11,300	$21,807	$24,163
2025	$89,113	$92,420	$24,816	$10,799	$21,019	$22,053
2026	$88,427	$92,499	$25,210	$10,910	$21,268	$21,612
2027	$87,845	$91,485	$24,686	$10,566	$20,407	$22,665
2028	$87,719	$91,450	$24,147	$10,458	$20,074	$22,107
2029 - 2033	$429,882	$444,131	$115,629	$48,870	$92,182	$109,712

Estimated Future Non-Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$276	$308	$474	$106	$448
2025	$474	$301	$547	$143	$423
2026	$160	$288	$461	$139	$445
2027	$149	$265	$642	$224	$395
2028	$288	$270	$395	$141	$369
2029 - 2033	$938	$941	$1,326	$529	$1,524

Estimated Future Other Postretirement Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$13,697	$15,049	$3,521	$2,200	$5,187	$2,811
2025	$12,913	$14,380	$3,386	$2,086	$4,874	$2,668
2026	$12,342	$13,676	$3,256	$1,942	$4,436	$2,434
2027	$11,767	$13,037	$3,126	$1,785	$4,215	$2,320
2028	$11,424	$12,348	$3,121	$1,640	$3,937	$2,266
2029 - 2033	$54,789	$57,264	$14,563	$7,297	$17,857	$11,270

Contributions

Entergy currently expects to contribute approximately $270 million to its qualified pension plans and approximately $45.9 million to other postretirement plans in 2024.  The expected 2024 pension and other postretirement plan contributions of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their employees are shown below.  The 2024 required pension contributions will be known with more certainty when the January 1, 2024 valuations are completed, which is expected by April 1, 2024.

The Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute approximately the following to the qualified pension and other postretirement plans for their current and former employees in 2024:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Pension Contributions	$55,112	$48,401	$14,980	$4,931	$8,272	$16,650
Other Postretirement Contributions	$529	$15,049	$178	$205	$156	$34

Actuarial Assumptions

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the pension PBO and the other postretirement benefits APBO as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	2023	2022
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension	5.02% - 5.10% Blended 5.06%	5.21% - 5.27% Blended 5.24%
Other postretirement	5.01%	5.20%
Non-qualified pension	4.68%	4.98%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Interest crediting rate	4.00%	4.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.95%	6.65%
Post-65	7.88%	7.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032
Post-65	2032	2032

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension and other postretirement benefits costs for 2023, 2022, and 2021 were as follows:

	2023	2022	2021
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension:
Service cost	5.26%	3.07%	2.81%
Interest cost	5.16%	2.49%	2.08%
Other postretirement:
Service cost	5.00%	3.20%	2.98%
Interest cost	5.09%	2.31%	1.86%
Non-qualified pension:
Service cost	5.31%	4.94%	1.48%
Interest cost	5.30%	5.03%	2.14%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets:
Pension assets	7.00%	6.75%	6.75%
Other postretirement non-taxable assets	6.00% - 7.00%	5.75% - 6.75%	6.00% - 6.75%
Other postretirement taxable assets	5.25%	4.75%	5.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.65%	5.65%	5.87%
Post-65	7.50%	5.90%	6.31%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032	2030
Post-65	2032	2032	2028

With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 other postretirement benefits APBO. With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 other postretirement benefits APBO.

Defined Contribution Plans

Entergy sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (System Savings Plan).  The System Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan covering eligible employees of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to the System Savings Plan for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to either 70% or 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 6% of their eligible earnings per pay period.  The matching contribution is allocated to investments as directed by the employee.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VI (Savings Plan VI) (established in April 2007) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VII (Savings Plan VII)

(established in April 2007) to which matching contributions are also made.  The plans are defined contribution plans that cover eligible employees, as defined by each plan, of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2023, employees participating in Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII were transferred into the System Savings Plan when Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII merged into the System Savings Plan.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VIII (established January 2021) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries IX (established January 2021) to which company contributions are made. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to these defined contribution plans for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 5% of their eligible earnings per pay period. Eligible participants may also receive a discretionary annual company contribution up to 4% of the participant’s eligible earnings (subject to vesting).

Entergy’s subsidiaries’ contributions to defined contribution plans collectively were $65.1 million in 2023, $62.1 million in 2022, and $62.3 million in 2021.  The majority of the contributions were to the System Savings Plan.

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ 2023, 2022, and 2021 contributions to defined contribution plans for their employees were as follows:

Year	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$5,866	$7,757	$3,534	$1,383	$3,380
2022	$5,124	$7,138	$3,194	$1,223	$2,938
2021	$4,820	$6,678	$3,045	$1,140	$2,699

Entergy New Orleans [Member]

Retirement Benefits [Text Block]

RETIREMENT, OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy has defined benefit qualified pension plans, including the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III (Plan III), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Bargaining Employees, and the Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Cash Balance Plan).  The Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan) was merged with and into Non-Bargaining Plan I effective January 1, 2022. Effective January 1, 2024, Non-Bargaining Plan I was amended to spin-off predominately inactive participants into a new qualified pension plan, Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan VI for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan VI). The Registrant Subsidiaries participate in these plans: Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Plan III, Non-Bargaining Plan VI, and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire was prior to June 30, 2014 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) participate in a noncontributory final average pay formula that provides pension benefits based on the employee’s credited service and compensation during employment. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire is after June 30, 2014 and before January 1, 2021 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) do not participate in a final average pay formula, but instead participate in a cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2021, the Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan were amended to close participation in each plan to those employees whose most recent hire date is after December 31, 2020 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement). Employees hired after this date instead may be eligible to participate in and receive a discretionary employer contribution under an Entergy sponsored tax-qualified defined contribution plan that includes a 401(k) feature.

The assets of the defined benefit qualified pension plans are held in a master trust established by Entergy. Each pension plan has an undivided beneficial interest in each of the investment accounts in the master trust that is maintained by a trustee.  Use of the master trust permits the commingling of the trust assets of the pension plans of Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets in the master trust are commingled, the trustee maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the trust level equity in net earnings (loss) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts in the trust to the various participating pension plans in the trust.  The fair value of the trust’s assets is determined by the trustee and certain investment managers.  The trustee calculates a daily earnings factor, including realized and unrealized gains or losses, collected and accrued income, and administrative expenses, and allocates earnings to each plan in the master trust on a pro rata basis.

Within each pension plan, the record of each Registrant Subsidiary’s beneficial interest in the plan assets is maintained by the plan’s actuary and is updated quarterly.  Assets for each Registrant Subsidiary are increased for investment net income and contributions and are decreased for benefit payments.  A plan’s investment net income/loss (i.e., interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses) is allocated to the Registrant Subsidiaries participating in that plan based on the value of assets for each Registrant Subsidiary at the beginning of the quarter adjusted for contributions and benefit payments made during the quarter.

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries fund pension plans in an amount not less than the minimum required contribution under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The assets of the plans include common and preferred stocks, fixed-income securities, interest in a money market fund, and insurance contracts.  The Registrant Subsidiaries’ pension costs are recovered from customers as a component of cost of service in each of their respective jurisdictions.

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$101,182	$138,085	$165,278
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	298,281	235,805	191,107
Expected return on assets	(388,030)	(402,504)	(424,572)
Recognized net loss	81,919	188,683	334,124
Settlement charges	160,387	230,389	205,878
Net pension cost	$253,739	$390,458	$471,815
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	($213,636)	$6,113	($448,532)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(81,919)	(188,683)	(334,124)
Settlement charge	(160,387)	(230,389)	(205,878)
Total	($455,942)	($412,959)	($988,534)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($202,203)	($22,501)	($516,719)

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$18,461	$24,716	$5,775	$1,955	$4,328	$5,749
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Expected return on assets	(70,574)	(75,757)	(19,423)	(8,798)	(16,641)	(17,585)
Recognized net loss	19,400	19,797	5,719	1,694	4,075	4,236
Settlement charges	26,137	40,437	12,242	2,080	11,230	6,375
Net pension cost	$49,450	$69,539	$19,715	$3,678	$15,718	$12,627
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($30,674)	($71,016)	($20,220)	($3,183)	($16,759)	($3,268)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(19,400)	(19,797)	(5,719)	(1,694)	(4,075)	(4,236)
Settlement charge	(26,137)	(40,437)	(12,242)	(2,080)	(11,230)	(6,375)
Total	($76,211)	($131,250)	($38,181)	($6,957)	($32,064)	($13,879)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($26,761)	($61,711)	($18,466)	($3,279)	($16,346)	($1,252)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$25,210	$33,520	$8,043	$2,745	$5,999	$7,746
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Expected return on assets	(75,820)	(82,478)	(20,168)	(9,920)	(18,317)	(18,173)
Recognized net loss	43,597	41,711	12,594	4,787	9,013	10,938
Settlement charges	36,409	58,550	15,786	6,676	22,411	9,905
Net pension cost	$74,774	$100,633	$29,234	$9,779	$29,835	$21,702
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	$28,365	($15,604)	($4,743)	$525	$13,363	($7,063)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(43,597)	(41,711)	(12,594)	(4,787)	(9,013)	(10,938)
Settlement charge	(36,409)	(58,550)	(15,786)	(6,676)	(22,411)	(9,905)
Total	($51,641)	($115,865)	($33,123)	($10,938)	($18,061)	($27,906)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$23,133	($15,232)	($3,889)	($1,159)	$11,774	($6,204)

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$28,632	$38,271	$9,070	$3,038	$6,921	$8,851
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	35,683	39,740	10,446	4,392	8,381	9,087
Expected return on assets	(78,368)	(89,821)	(22,407)	(10,598)	(21,158)	(19,254)
Recognized net loss	69,290	67,015	20,007	7,596	12,676	18,404
Settlement charges	37,682	61,945	16,710	5,431	11,797	12,260
Net pension cost	$92,919	$117,150	$33,826	$9,859	$18,617	$29,348
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($96,066)	($89,534)	($29,675)	($16,159)	($18,217)	($27,617)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(69,290)	(67,015)	(20,007)	(7,596)	(12,676)	(18,404)
Settlement charge	(37,682)	(61,945)	(16,710)	(5,431)	(11,797)	(12,260)
Total	($203,038)	($218,494)	($66,392)	($29,186)	($42,690)	($58,281)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($110,119)	($101,344)	($32,566)	($19,327)	($24,073)	($28,933)

Qualified Pension Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$6,166,106	$8,409,620
Service cost	101,182	138,085
Interest cost	298,281	235,805
Actuarial (gain)/loss	123,237	(1,660,463)
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Balance at December 31	$5,915,404	$6,166,106
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$5,242,098	$6,993,110
Actual return on plan assets	724,903	(1,264,071)
Employer contributions	267,002	470,000
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$5,460,601	$5,242,098
Funded status	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset
Net loss	$1,447,978	$1,842,348
Amount recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$347,268	$408,839

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets for the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Service cost	18,461	24,716	5,775	1,955	4,328	5,749
Interest cost	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Actuarial (gain)/loss	39,643	1,925	(328)	4,590	(1,416)	14,522
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Balance at December 31	$1,117,585	$1,173,283	$295,942	$133,950	$239,984	$286,558
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Actual return on plan assets	140,891	148,698	39,315	16,571	31,984	35,375
Employer contributions	54,468	44,565	21,110	1,420	5,314	15,543
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$991,894	$1,058,711	$280,260	$117,923	$222,496	$255,443
Funded status	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$485,113	$319,116	$102,208	$44,911	$63,665	$111,996
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$13,296	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($68.7) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($103.1) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($31.4) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($5.3) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($29.4) million at Entergy Texas, and ($16.7) million at System Energy.

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,579,346	$1,736,396	$448,858	$195,380	$371,802	$394,794
Service cost	25,210	33,520	8,043	2,745	5,999	7,746
Interest cost	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Actuarial gain	(280,691)	(357,572)	(88,303)	(40,462)	(65,795)	(81,504)
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Balance at December 31	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$1,302,588	$1,446,658	$356,424	$172,366	$341,915	$312,060
Actual return on plan assets	(233,236)	(259,490)	(63,392)	(31,067)	(60,841)	(56,267)
Employer contributions	92,971	53,658	33,287	1,129	2,513	28,619
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Funded status	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$561,323	$445,116	$140,389	$51,868	$95,729	$125,876
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$18,546	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($96) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($146.6) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($48) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($16.2) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($48.9) million at Entergy Texas, and ($23.5) million at System Energy.

The qualified pension plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to asset gains resulting from an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The qualified pension plans incurred a small net actuarial loss during 2022 primarily due to asset losses resulting from an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets, substantially offset by liability gains due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations.

Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation

The accumulated benefit obligation for Entergy’s qualified pension plans was $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The qualified pension accumulated benefit obligation for each of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Entergy Arkansas	$1,048,901	$1,008,152
Entergy Louisiana	$1,085,318	$1,146,561
Entergy Mississippi	$273,338	$292,596
Entergy New Orleans	$125,878	$128,499
Entergy Texas	$225,379	$245,428
System Energy	$267,432	$269,583

Other Postretirement Benefits

Entergy also currently offers retiree medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits (other postretirement benefits) for eligible retired employees.  Employees who commenced employment before July 1, 2014 and who satisfy certain eligibility requirements (including retiring from Entergy after a certain age and/or years of service with Entergy and immediately commencing their Entergy pension benefit), may become eligible for other postretirement benefits.

In March 2020, Entergy announced changes to its other postretirement benefits. Effective January 1, 2021, certain retired, former non-bargaining employees age 65 and older who are eligible for Entergy-sponsored retiree welfare benefits, and their eligible spouses who are age 65 and older (collectively, Medicare-eligible participants), are eligible to participate in an Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, and are no longer eligible for retiree coverage under the Entergy Corporation Companies’ Benefits Plus Medical, Dental and Vision Plans. Under the Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, Medicare-eligible participants are eligible to participate in a health reimbursement arrangement which they may use towards the purchase of various types of qualified insurance offered through a Medicare exchange provider and for other qualified medical expenses. The changes affecting active bargaining unit employees were negotiated with the unions prior to implementation, where necessary, and to the extent required by law.

Effective January 1, 1993, Entergy adopted an accounting standard requiring a change from a cash method to an accrual method of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas have received regulatory approval to recover accrued other postretirement benefits costs through rates.  The LPSC ordered Entergy Louisiana to continue the use of the pay-as-you-go method for ratemaking purposes for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  However, the LPSC retains the flexibility to examine individual companies’ accounting for other postretirement benefits to determine if special exceptions to this order are warranted. Pursuant to regulatory directives, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy contribute the other postretirement benefits costs collected in rates into external trusts.  System Energy is funding, on behalf of Entergy Operations, other postretirement benefits associated with employees who work or worked at Grand Gulf.

Trust assets contributed by participating Registrant Subsidiaries are in master trusts, established by Entergy Corporation and maintained by a trustee.  Each participating Registrant Subsidiary holds a beneficial interest in the trusts’ assets.  The assets in the master trusts are commingled for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets are commingled, supporting records are maintained for the purpose of allocating the beneficial interest in net earnings/(losses) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts to the various participating plans and participating Registrant Subsidiaries. Beneficial interest in an investment account’s net income/(loss) is comprised of interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and expenses.  Beneficial interest from these

investments is allocated to the plans and participating Registrant Subsidiary based on their portion of net assets in the pooled accounts.

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefits Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or AOCI

Entergy Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs, including amounts capitalized and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$14,654	$24,734	$26,578
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefits obligation (APBO)	42,272	27,306	21,278
Expected return on assets	(36,732)	(43,420)	(43,220)
Amortization of prior service credit	(22,558)	(25,550)	(33,069)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	(11,446)	4,333	2,853
Net other postretirement benefits income	($13,810)	($12,597)	($25,580)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	($4,434)	($858)	($3,168)
Net (gain)/loss	(44,441)	(131,524)	6,210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	22,558	25,550	33,069
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	11,446	(4,333)	(2,853)
Total	($14,871)	($111,165)	$33,258
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($28,681)	($123,762)	$7,678

Total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs of the Registrant Subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized and deferred, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$2,965	$3,379	$878	$235	$809	$754
Interest cost on APBO	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Expected return on assets	(15,113)	—	(4,716)	(5,263)	(8,776)	(2,535)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,096	(3,804)	(955)	(916)	(4,371)	(293)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	171	(7,057)	85	466	914	—
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($1,879)	$1,449	($2,538)	($4,318)	($8,827)	($348)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	$—	($4,434)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	(23,033)	(458)	(6,883)	(7,606)	(8,790)	(3,942)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(2,096)	3,804	955	916	4,371	293
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(171)	7,057	(85)	(466)	(914)	—
Total	($25,300)	$5,969	($6,013)	($7,156)	($5,333)	($3,649)
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($27,179)	$7,418	($8,551)	($11,474)	($14,160)	($3,997)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,457	$5,633	$1,354	$397	$1,322	$1,239
Interest cost on APBO	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Expected return on assets	(17,930)	—	(5,575)	(5,997)	(10,273)	(3,162)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,885	(4,630)	(1,772)	(916)	(4,371)	(319)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	873	(744)	222	(898)	648	121
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($5,665)	$6,029	($4,370)	($6,720)	($11,078)	($1,005)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	$273	$323	($1,300)	$—	$—	$141
Net (gain)/loss	12,894	(65,501)	6,629	17,334	22,323	1,208
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(1,885)	4,630	1,772	916	4,371	319
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(873)	744	(222)	898	(648)	(121)
Total	$10,409	($59,804)	$6,879	$19,148	$26,046	$1,547
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$4,744	($53,775)	$2,509	$12,428	$14,968	$542

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,135	$6,174	$1,448	$437	$1,384	$1,340
Interest cost on APBO	3,726	4,520	1,110	521	1,269	878
Expected return on assets	(18,020)	—	(5,536)	(5,750)	(10,192)	(3,156)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,121)	(4,920)	(1,775)	(916)	(3,742)	(436)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	196	(364)	76	(712)	398	61
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($11,084)	$5,410	($4,677)	($6,420)	($10,883)	($1,313)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	($85)	$357	$—	$—	($3,776)	$69
Net (gain)/loss	9,956	(2,367)	(2,823)	(3,330)	939	210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	1,121	4,920	1,775	916	3,742	436
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(196)	364	(76)	712	(398)	(61)
Total	$10,796	$3,274	($1,124)	($1,702)	$507	$654
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($288)	$8,684	($5,801)	($8,122)	($10,376)	($659)

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Not Yet Recognized and Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$865,854	$1,189,682
Service cost	14,654	24,734
Interest cost	42,272	27,306
Plan amendments	(4,434)	(858)
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Actuarial gain	(4,303)	(297,128)
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	280	264
Balance at December 31	$837,644	$865,854
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$623,824	$771,319
Actual return on plan assets	76,870	(122,184)
Employer contributions	49,126	52,835
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$673,141	$623,824
Funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	($45,706)	($42,484)
Non-current liabilities	(118,797)	(199,546)
Total funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset
Prior service credit	($21,465)	($29,323)
Net (gain)/loss	(33,617)	16,956
	($55,082)	($12,367)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	($34,899)	($45,167)
Net gain	(116,078)	(133,656)
	($150,977)	($178,823)

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Balance Sheets of the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Service cost	2,965	3,379	878	235	809	754
Interest cost	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Plan amendments	—	(4,434)	—	—	—	—
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(6,403)	(458)	(1,650)	(1,676)	337	(1,075)
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	33	46	10	5	11	13
Balance at December 31	$155,987	$170,139	$41,344	$21,685	$51,617	$33,778
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Actual return on plan assets	31,743	—	9,949	11,193	17,903	5,402
Employer contributions	582	20,451	646	213	235	480
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$274,814	$—	$85,662	$100,536	$161,318	$45,402
Funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,049)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	118,827	(155,090)	44,318	78,851	109,701	11,624
Total funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$4,983	$—	($2,682)	($1,982)	($11,790)	($496)
Net loss/(gain)	(17,980)	—	(4,815)	(5,843)	14,542	112
	($12,997)	$—	($7,497)	($7,825)	$2,752	($384)
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,645)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(75,709)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($88,354)	$—	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$221,183	$253,031	$61,001	$31,866	$71,961	$47,875
Service cost	4,457	5,633	1,354	397	1,322	1,239
Interest cost	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Plan amendments	273	323	(1,300)	—	—	141
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Actuarial gain	(54,923)	(65,501)	(14,465)	(6,867)	(16,291)	(10,679)
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	42	57	6	7	16	17
Balance at December 31	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$315,495	$—	$97,888	$111,137	$182,285	$54,650
Actual return on plan assets	(49,887)	—	(15,519)	(18,204)	(28,341)	(8,725)
Employer contributions	1,573	16,187	759	333	(23)	944
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,356)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	91,099	(167,770)	35,131	67,169	95,317	7,160
Total funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$7,079	$—	($3,637)	($2,898)	($16,161)	($789)
Net loss	5,224	—	2,153	2,229	24,246	4,054
	$12,303	$—	($1,484)	($669)	$8,085	$3,265
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,015)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(82,308)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($94,323)	$—	$—	$—	$—

The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to updated demographic assumptions and census data coupled with an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, partially offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by asset losses due to an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets during 2022.

Non-Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy also sponsors non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  Entergy recognized net periodic pension cost related to these plans of $43.8 million in 2023, $30.9 million in 2022, and $28.6 million in 2021.  In 2023, 2022, and 2021, Entergy recognized $27.9 million, $12.2 million, and $10.9 million, respectively, in settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan that is included in the non-qualified pension plan cost above.

The projected benefit obligation was $88.6 million as of December 31, 2023 of which $13.8 million was a current liability and $74.8 million was a non-current liability. The projected benefit obligation was $152.4 million as of December 31, 2022 of which $62.4 million was a current liability and $90 million was a non-current liability.  The accumulated benefit obligation was $77.9 million and $140 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unamortized prior service cost and net loss are recognized in regulatory assets ($29.7 million at December 31, 2023 and $56.8 million at December 31, 2022) and accumulated other comprehensive income before taxes ($3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $8.7 million at December 31, 2022).

A Rabbi Trust was established for the benefit of certain participants in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans. The Rabbi Trust assets were invested in money-market funds which were recorded at fair value with all gains and losses recognized immediately in income. All of the investments were classified as Level 1 investments for purposes of Fair Value Measurements. At December 31, 2022, the fair value of the assets held in the Rabbi Trust was $35 million. In August 2023 the Rabbi Trust assets were used to pay benefits due under the non-qualified pension plans.

The following Registrant Subsidiaries participate in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  The net periodic pension cost for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans for 2023, 2022, and 2021, was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$637	$99	$808	$132	$253
2022	$282	$102	$321	$114	$1,320
2021	$343	$307	$365	$30	$615

Included in the 2023 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $379 thousand and $453 thousand for Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2022 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $1 thousand, $2 thousand, and $1 million for Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2021 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $155 thousand and $172 thousand for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan.

The projected benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$2,313	$2,574	$3,369	$1,034	$3,762
2022	$2,433	$1,197	$3,830	$1,024	$3,850

The accumulated benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$1,935	$2,494	$3,187	$814	$3,701
2022	$2,192	$1,197	$3,594	$719	$3,776

The following amounts were recorded on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($276)	($308)	($474)	($106)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,037)	(2,266)	(2,895)	(928)	(3,314)
Total funded status	($2,313)	($2,574)	($3,369)	($1,034)	($3,762)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$857	$1,604	$1,303	$5	($2,526)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$67	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($234)	($184)	($214)	($32)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,199)	(1,013)	(3,616)	(992)	(3,402)
Total funded status	($2,433)	($1,197)	($3,830)	($1,024)	($3,850)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$512	$119	$1,291	$111	($2,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$5	$—	$—	$—

The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial loss during 2023 primarily as a result of liability losses due to differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions. The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial gain during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions.

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2023:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$14,038	($452)	$13,586
Amortization of gain (loss)	(4,407)	11,590	(593)	6,590
Settlement loss	(7,844)	—	(3,004)	(10,848)
	($12,251)	$25,628	($4,049)	$9,328
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$3,804	$—	$3,804
Amortization of gain (loss)	(792)	7,057	(2)	6,263
Settlement loss	(1,617)	—	—	(1,617)
	($2,409)	$10,861	($2)	$8,450

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2022:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$16,052	($715)	$15,337
Amortization of loss	(30,147)	(2,381)	(1,331)	(33,859)
Settlement loss	(23,636)	—	(1,685)	(25,321)
	($53,783)	$13,671	($3,731)	($43,843)
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$4,630	$—	$4,630
Amortization of gain (loss)	(1,669)	744	(2)	(927)
Settlement loss	(2,342)	—	—	(2,342)
	($4,011)	$5,374	($2)	$1,361

Accounting for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Accounting standards require an employer to recognize in its balance sheet the funded status of its benefit plans.  This is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation.  Entergy uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement plans.  Employers are to record previously unrecognized gains and losses, prior service costs, and any remaining transition asset or obligation (that resulted from adopting prior pension and other postretirement benefits accounting standards) as comprehensive income and/or as a regulatory asset reflective of the recovery mechanism for pension and other postretirement benefits costs in the Registrant Subsidiaries’ respective regulatory jurisdictions.  For the portion of Entergy Louisiana that is not regulated, the unrecognized prior service cost, gains and losses, and transition asset/obligation for its pension and other postretirement benefits obligations are recorded as other comprehensive income.  Entergy Louisiana recovers other postretirement benefits costs on a pay-as-you-go basis and records the unrecognized prior

service cost, gains and losses, and transition obligation for its other postretirement benefits obligation as other comprehensive income.  Accounting standards also require that changes in the funded status be recorded as other comprehensive income and/or a regulatory asset in the period in which the changes occur.

With regard to pension and other postretirement costs, Entergy calculates the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets by multiplying the long-term expected rate of return on assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets.  Entergy determines the MRV of its pension plan assets, except for the long duration fixed income assets, by calculating a value that uses a 20-quarter phase-in of the difference between actual and expected returns. For the long duration fixed income assets in the pension trust and for its other postretirement benefits plan assets Entergy uses fair value as the MRV.

In accordance with ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”, the other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations and are presented by Entergy in miscellaneous - net in other income.

Qualified Pension Settlement Cost

Year-to-date lump sum benefit payments from Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Non-Bargaining Plan II, and Bargaining Plan II exceeded the sum of the Plans’ service and interest cost, resulting in settlement costs during 2023, 2022, and 2021. In accordance with accounting standards, settlement accounting requires immediate recognition of the portion of previously unrecognized losses associated with the settled portion of the plans’ pension liability. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy participate in one or both of Non-Bargaining Plan I and Bargaining Plan I and incurred settlement costs. Similar to other pension costs, the settlement costs were included with employee labor costs and charged to expense and capital in the same manner that labor costs were charged. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans received regulatory approval to defer the expense portion of settlement costs, with future amortization of the deferred settlement expense over the period in which the expense otherwise would be recorded had the immediate recognition not occurred.

Entergy Texas Reserve

In September 2020, Entergy Texas elected to establish a reserve, in accordance with PUCT regulations, to track the surplus or deficit in the annual amount of actuarially determined pension and other postretirement benefits chargeable to Entergy Texas’s expense. The reserve amounts recorded for 2020 and 2021 were included in the base rate case that was filed with the PUCT in July 2022, and amortization of that amount began in 2023 when interim rates became effective. The reserve amounts recorded for 2022 and through December 2023 will be evaluated in the next rate case filed by Entergy Texas, and an amortization period will be determined at that time. At December 31, 2023, the balance in this reserve was approximately $32.7 million.

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Plans’ Assets

The Plan Administrator’s trust asset investment strategy is to invest the assets in a manner whereby long-term earnings on the assets (plus cash contributions) provide adequate funding for retiree benefit payments.  The mix of assets is based on an optimization study that identifies asset allocation targets in order to achieve the maximum return for an acceptable level of risk, while minimizing the expected contributions and pension and postretirement expense.

In the optimization studies, the Plan Administrator formulates assumptions about characteristics, such as expected asset class investment returns, volatility (risk), and correlation coefficients among the various asset classes.  The future market assumptions used in the optimization study are determined by examining historical

market characteristics of the various asset classes and making adjustments to reflect future conditions expected to prevail over the study period.

The target asset allocation for pension adjusts dynamically based on the funded status of each plan within the trust. The current targets are shown below. The expectation is that the allocation to fixed income securities will increase as the pension plans’ funded status increases.  The following ranges were established to produce an acceptable, economically efficient plan to manage around the targets.

For postretirement assets the target and range asset allocations (as shown below) reflect recommendations made in the latest optimization study. The target asset allocations for postretirement assets adjust dynamically based on the funded status of each sub-account within each trust. The current weighted-average targets shown below represent the aggregate of all targets for all sub-accounts within all trusts.

Entergy’s qualified pension and postretirement weighted-average asset allocations by asset category at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the target asset allocation and ranges for 2023 are as follows:

Pension Asset Allocation	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	32%	26%	to	38%	33%	42%
International Equity Securities	17%	14%	to	20%	18%	22%
Intermediate Fixed Income Securities	8%	7%	to	9%	9%	11%
Long Duration Fixed Income Securities	43%	39%	to	47%	40%	22%
Other	—%	—%	to	10%	—%	3%

Postretirement Asset Allocation	Non-Taxable and Taxable
	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	25%	20%	to	30%	28%	25%
International Equity Securities	17%	12%	to	22%	17%	18%
Fixed Income Securities	58%	53%	to	63%	55%	57%
Other	—%	—%	to	5%	—%	—%

In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used in the calculation of benefit plan costs, Entergy reviews past performance, current and expected future asset allocations, and capital market assumptions of its investment consultant and some investment managers.

The expected long-term rate of return for the qualified pension plans’ assets is based primarily on the geometric average of the historical annual performance of a representative portfolio weighted by the target asset allocation defined in the table above, along with other indications of expected return on assets. The time period reflected is a long-dated period spanning several decades.

The expected long-term rate of return for the non-taxable postretirement trust assets is determined using the same methodology described above for pension assets, but the aggregate asset allocation specific to the non-taxable postretirement assets is used.

For the taxable postretirement trust assets, the investment allocation includes tax-exempt fixed income securities.  This asset allocation, in combination with the same methodology employed to determine the expected return for other postretirement assets (as described above), and with a modification to reflect applicable taxes, is used to produce the expected long-term rate of return for taxable postretirement trust assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Entergy’s investment guidelines mandate the avoidance of risk concentrations.  Types of concentrations specified to be avoided include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country, geographic area, and individual security issuance.  As of December 31, 2023, all investment managers and assets were materially in compliance with the approved investment guidelines, therefore there were no significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10 percent of plan assets) of credit risk in Entergy’s pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards provide the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access at the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

•Level 2 - Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are, either directly or indirectly, observable for the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Assets are valued based on prices derived by an independent party that uses inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, and issuer spreads.  Prices are reviewed and can be challenged with the independent parties and/or overridden if it is believed such would be more reflective of fair value.  Level 2 inputs include the following:

-     quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

-     quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

-     inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or

-    inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If an asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•Level 3 - Level 3 refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, a summary of the investments held in the master trusts for Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement plans in which the Registrant Subsidiaries participate.

Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$10,827	(b)	$—		$—	$10,827
Common	715,452	(b)	—		—	715,452
Common collective trusts (c)						2,066,247
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		1,085,231	(a)	—	1,085,231
Corporate debt instruments	—		924,904	(a)	—	924,904
Registered investment companies (e)	34,364	(d)	2,718	(d)	—	657,691
Other	774	(f)	78,883	(f)	—	79,657
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,899	(g)	—	5,899
Total investments	$761,417		$2,097,635		$—	$5,545,908
Cash						1,488
Other pending transactions						(22,404)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(64,391)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,460,601

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$12,178	(b)	$—		$—	$12,178
Common	807,437	(b)	—		—	807,437
Common collective trusts (c)						2,516,688
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		673,348	(a)	—	673,348
Corporate debt instruments	—		525,184	(a)	—	525,184
Registered investment companies (e)	221,582	(d)	2,595	(d)	—	750,454
Other	—		15,395	(f)	—	15,395
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,911	(g)	—	5,911
Total investments	$1,041,197		$1,222,433		$—	$5,306,595
Cash						10,601
Other pending transactions						(13,813)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(61,285)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,242,098

Other Postretirement Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$276,560
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$80,219	(b)	$84,521	(a)	$—	164,740
Corporate debt instruments	—		106,523	(a)	—	106,523
Registered investment companies	548	(d)	—		—	548
Other	—		57,511	(f)	—	57,511
Total investments	$80,767		$248,555		$—	$605,882
Other pending transactions						2,868
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						64,391
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$673,141

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$241,676
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$69,503	(b)	$78,436	(a)	$—	147,939
Corporate debt instruments	—		113,273	(a)	—	113,273
Registered investment companies	3,016	(d)	—		—	3,016
Other	—		56,149	(f)	—	56,149
Total investments	$72,519		$247,858		$—	$562,053
Other pending transactions						486
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						61,285
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$623,824

(a)Certain fixed income debt securities (corporate, government, and securitized) are stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(b)Common stocks, preferred stocks, and certain fixed income debt securities (government) are stated at fair value determined by quoted market prices.

(c)The common collective trusts hold investments in accordance with stated objectives.  The investment strategy of the trusts is to capture the growth potential of equity markets by replicating the performance of a specified index.  The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Net asset value per share of common collective trusts estimate fair value. Common collective trusts are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(d)Registered investment companies are money market mutual funds with a stable net asset value of one dollar per share. Registered investment companies may hold investments in domestic and international bond markets or domestic equities valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The money market mutual funds held by the trusts are deemed to be actively traded. Certain registered investment companies are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.

(e)Certain of these registered investment companies are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(f)The other remaining assets are U.S. municipal and foreign government bonds stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(g)The unallocated insurance contract investments are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.  The contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest, less funds used to pay benefits and contract expenses, and less distributions to the master trust.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Based upon the assumptions used to measure Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement benefits obligations at December 31, 2023, and including pension and other postretirement benefits attributable to estimated future employee service, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries will be as follows:

	Estimated Future Benefits Payments
	Qualified Pension	Non-Qualified Pension	Other Postretirement
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$463,557	$13,802	$74,649
2025	$449,803	$10,894	$70,720
2026	$450,945	$8,507	$67,105
2027	$449,510	$14,374	$63,949
2028	$450,827	$9,325	$61,234
2029 - 2033	$2,222,959	$36,584	$283,477

Based upon the same assumptions, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees will be as follows:

Estimated Future Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$90,682	$95,706	$25,534	$11,300	$21,807	$24,163
2025	$89,113	$92,420	$24,816	$10,799	$21,019	$22,053
2026	$88,427	$92,499	$25,210	$10,910	$21,268	$21,612
2027	$87,845	$91,485	$24,686	$10,566	$20,407	$22,665
2028	$87,719	$91,450	$24,147	$10,458	$20,074	$22,107
2029 - 2033	$429,882	$444,131	$115,629	$48,870	$92,182	$109,712

Estimated Future Non-Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$276	$308	$474	$106	$448
2025	$474	$301	$547	$143	$423
2026	$160	$288	$461	$139	$445
2027	$149	$265	$642	$224	$395
2028	$288	$270	$395	$141	$369
2029 - 2033	$938	$941	$1,326	$529	$1,524

Estimated Future Other Postretirement Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$13,697	$15,049	$3,521	$2,200	$5,187	$2,811
2025	$12,913	$14,380	$3,386	$2,086	$4,874	$2,668
2026	$12,342	$13,676	$3,256	$1,942	$4,436	$2,434
2027	$11,767	$13,037	$3,126	$1,785	$4,215	$2,320
2028	$11,424	$12,348	$3,121	$1,640	$3,937	$2,266
2029 - 2033	$54,789	$57,264	$14,563	$7,297	$17,857	$11,270

Contributions

Entergy currently expects to contribute approximately $270 million to its qualified pension plans and approximately $45.9 million to other postretirement plans in 2024.  The expected 2024 pension and other postretirement plan contributions of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their employees are shown below.  The 2024 required pension contributions will be known with more certainty when the January 1, 2024 valuations are completed, which is expected by April 1, 2024.

The Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute approximately the following to the qualified pension and other postretirement plans for their current and former employees in 2024:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Pension Contributions	$55,112	$48,401	$14,980	$4,931	$8,272	$16,650
Other Postretirement Contributions	$529	$15,049	$178	$205	$156	$34

Actuarial Assumptions

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the pension PBO and the other postretirement benefits APBO as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	2023	2022
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension	5.02% - 5.10% Blended 5.06%	5.21% - 5.27% Blended 5.24%
Other postretirement	5.01%	5.20%
Non-qualified pension	4.68%	4.98%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Interest crediting rate	4.00%	4.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.95%	6.65%
Post-65	7.88%	7.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032
Post-65	2032	2032

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension and other postretirement benefits costs for 2023, 2022, and 2021 were as follows:

	2023	2022	2021
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension:
Service cost	5.26%	3.07%	2.81%
Interest cost	5.16%	2.49%	2.08%
Other postretirement:
Service cost	5.00%	3.20%	2.98%
Interest cost	5.09%	2.31%	1.86%
Non-qualified pension:
Service cost	5.31%	4.94%	1.48%
Interest cost	5.30%	5.03%	2.14%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets:
Pension assets	7.00%	6.75%	6.75%
Other postretirement non-taxable assets	6.00% - 7.00%	5.75% - 6.75%	6.00% - 6.75%
Other postretirement taxable assets	5.25%	4.75%	5.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.65%	5.65%	5.87%
Post-65	7.50%	5.90%	6.31%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032	2030
Post-65	2032	2032	2028

With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 other postretirement benefits APBO. With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 other postretirement benefits APBO.

Defined Contribution Plans

Entergy sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (System Savings Plan).  The System Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan covering eligible employees of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to the System Savings Plan for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to either 70% or 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 6% of their eligible earnings per pay period.  The matching contribution is allocated to investments as directed by the employee.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VI (Savings Plan VI) (established in April 2007) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VII (Savings Plan VII)

(established in April 2007) to which matching contributions are also made.  The plans are defined contribution plans that cover eligible employees, as defined by each plan, of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2023, employees participating in Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII were transferred into the System Savings Plan when Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII merged into the System Savings Plan.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VIII (established January 2021) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries IX (established January 2021) to which company contributions are made. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to these defined contribution plans for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 5% of their eligible earnings per pay period. Eligible participants may also receive a discretionary annual company contribution up to 4% of the participant’s eligible earnings (subject to vesting).

Entergy’s subsidiaries’ contributions to defined contribution plans collectively were $65.1 million in 2023, $62.1 million in 2022, and $62.3 million in 2021.  The majority of the contributions were to the System Savings Plan.

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ 2023, 2022, and 2021 contributions to defined contribution plans for their employees were as follows:

Year	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$5,866	$7,757	$3,534	$1,383	$3,380
2022	$5,124	$7,138	$3,194	$1,223	$2,938
2021	$4,820	$6,678	$3,045	$1,140	$2,699

Entergy Texas [Member]

Retirement Benefits [Text Block]

RETIREMENT, OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy has defined benefit qualified pension plans, including the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III (Plan III), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Bargaining Employees, and the Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Cash Balance Plan).  The Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan) was merged with and into Non-Bargaining Plan I effective January 1, 2022. Effective January 1, 2024, Non-Bargaining Plan I was amended to spin-off predominately inactive participants into a new qualified pension plan, Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan VI for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan VI). The Registrant Subsidiaries participate in these plans: Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Plan III, Non-Bargaining Plan VI, and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire was prior to June 30, 2014 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) participate in a noncontributory final average pay formula that provides pension benefits based on the employee’s credited service and compensation during employment. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire is after June 30, 2014 and before January 1, 2021 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) do not participate in a final average pay formula, but instead participate in a cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2021, the Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan were amended to close participation in each plan to those employees whose most recent hire date is after December 31, 2020 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement). Employees hired after this date instead may be eligible to participate in and receive a discretionary employer contribution under an Entergy sponsored tax-qualified defined contribution plan that includes a 401(k) feature.

The assets of the defined benefit qualified pension plans are held in a master trust established by Entergy. Each pension plan has an undivided beneficial interest in each of the investment accounts in the master trust that is maintained by a trustee.  Use of the master trust permits the commingling of the trust assets of the pension plans of Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets in the master trust are commingled, the trustee maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the trust level equity in net earnings (loss) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts in the trust to the various participating pension plans in the trust.  The fair value of the trust’s assets is determined by the trustee and certain investment managers.  The trustee calculates a daily earnings factor, including realized and unrealized gains or losses, collected and accrued income, and administrative expenses, and allocates earnings to each plan in the master trust on a pro rata basis.

Within each pension plan, the record of each Registrant Subsidiary’s beneficial interest in the plan assets is maintained by the plan’s actuary and is updated quarterly.  Assets for each Registrant Subsidiary are increased for investment net income and contributions and are decreased for benefit payments.  A plan’s investment net income/loss (i.e., interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses) is allocated to the Registrant Subsidiaries participating in that plan based on the value of assets for each Registrant Subsidiary at the beginning of the quarter adjusted for contributions and benefit payments made during the quarter.

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries fund pension plans in an amount not less than the minimum required contribution under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The assets of the plans include common and preferred stocks, fixed-income securities, interest in a money market fund, and insurance contracts.  The Registrant Subsidiaries’ pension costs are recovered from customers as a component of cost of service in each of their respective jurisdictions.

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$101,182	$138,085	$165,278
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	298,281	235,805	191,107
Expected return on assets	(388,030)	(402,504)	(424,572)
Recognized net loss	81,919	188,683	334,124
Settlement charges	160,387	230,389	205,878
Net pension cost	$253,739	$390,458	$471,815
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	($213,636)	$6,113	($448,532)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(81,919)	(188,683)	(334,124)
Settlement charge	(160,387)	(230,389)	(205,878)
Total	($455,942)	($412,959)	($988,534)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($202,203)	($22,501)	($516,719)

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$18,461	$24,716	$5,775	$1,955	$4,328	$5,749
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Expected return on assets	(70,574)	(75,757)	(19,423)	(8,798)	(16,641)	(17,585)
Recognized net loss	19,400	19,797	5,719	1,694	4,075	4,236
Settlement charges	26,137	40,437	12,242	2,080	11,230	6,375
Net pension cost	$49,450	$69,539	$19,715	$3,678	$15,718	$12,627
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($30,674)	($71,016)	($20,220)	($3,183)	($16,759)	($3,268)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(19,400)	(19,797)	(5,719)	(1,694)	(4,075)	(4,236)
Settlement charge	(26,137)	(40,437)	(12,242)	(2,080)	(11,230)	(6,375)
Total	($76,211)	($131,250)	($38,181)	($6,957)	($32,064)	($13,879)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($26,761)	($61,711)	($18,466)	($3,279)	($16,346)	($1,252)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$25,210	$33,520	$8,043	$2,745	$5,999	$7,746
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Expected return on assets	(75,820)	(82,478)	(20,168)	(9,920)	(18,317)	(18,173)
Recognized net loss	43,597	41,711	12,594	4,787	9,013	10,938
Settlement charges	36,409	58,550	15,786	6,676	22,411	9,905
Net pension cost	$74,774	$100,633	$29,234	$9,779	$29,835	$21,702
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	$28,365	($15,604)	($4,743)	$525	$13,363	($7,063)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(43,597)	(41,711)	(12,594)	(4,787)	(9,013)	(10,938)
Settlement charge	(36,409)	(58,550)	(15,786)	(6,676)	(22,411)	(9,905)
Total	($51,641)	($115,865)	($33,123)	($10,938)	($18,061)	($27,906)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$23,133	($15,232)	($3,889)	($1,159)	$11,774	($6,204)

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$28,632	$38,271	$9,070	$3,038	$6,921	$8,851
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	35,683	39,740	10,446	4,392	8,381	9,087
Expected return on assets	(78,368)	(89,821)	(22,407)	(10,598)	(21,158)	(19,254)
Recognized net loss	69,290	67,015	20,007	7,596	12,676	18,404
Settlement charges	37,682	61,945	16,710	5,431	11,797	12,260
Net pension cost	$92,919	$117,150	$33,826	$9,859	$18,617	$29,348
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($96,066)	($89,534)	($29,675)	($16,159)	($18,217)	($27,617)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(69,290)	(67,015)	(20,007)	(7,596)	(12,676)	(18,404)
Settlement charge	(37,682)	(61,945)	(16,710)	(5,431)	(11,797)	(12,260)
Total	($203,038)	($218,494)	($66,392)	($29,186)	($42,690)	($58,281)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($110,119)	($101,344)	($32,566)	($19,327)	($24,073)	($28,933)

Qualified Pension Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$6,166,106	$8,409,620
Service cost	101,182	138,085
Interest cost	298,281	235,805
Actuarial (gain)/loss	123,237	(1,660,463)
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Balance at December 31	$5,915,404	$6,166,106
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$5,242,098	$6,993,110
Actual return on plan assets	724,903	(1,264,071)
Employer contributions	267,002	470,000
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$5,460,601	$5,242,098
Funded status	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset
Net loss	$1,447,978	$1,842,348
Amount recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$347,268	$408,839

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets for the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Service cost	18,461	24,716	5,775	1,955	4,328	5,749
Interest cost	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Actuarial (gain)/loss	39,643	1,925	(328)	4,590	(1,416)	14,522
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Balance at December 31	$1,117,585	$1,173,283	$295,942	$133,950	$239,984	$286,558
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Actual return on plan assets	140,891	148,698	39,315	16,571	31,984	35,375
Employer contributions	54,468	44,565	21,110	1,420	5,314	15,543
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$991,894	$1,058,711	$280,260	$117,923	$222,496	$255,443
Funded status	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$485,113	$319,116	$102,208	$44,911	$63,665	$111,996
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$13,296	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($68.7) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($103.1) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($31.4) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($5.3) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($29.4) million at Entergy Texas, and ($16.7) million at System Energy.

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,579,346	$1,736,396	$448,858	$195,380	$371,802	$394,794
Service cost	25,210	33,520	8,043	2,745	5,999	7,746
Interest cost	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Actuarial gain	(280,691)	(357,572)	(88,303)	(40,462)	(65,795)	(81,504)
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Balance at December 31	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$1,302,588	$1,446,658	$356,424	$172,366	$341,915	$312,060
Actual return on plan assets	(233,236)	(259,490)	(63,392)	(31,067)	(60,841)	(56,267)
Employer contributions	92,971	53,658	33,287	1,129	2,513	28,619
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Funded status	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$561,323	$445,116	$140,389	$51,868	$95,729	$125,876
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$18,546	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($96) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($146.6) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($48) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($16.2) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($48.9) million at Entergy Texas, and ($23.5) million at System Energy.

The qualified pension plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to asset gains resulting from an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The qualified pension plans incurred a small net actuarial loss during 2022 primarily due to asset losses resulting from an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets, substantially offset by liability gains due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations.

Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation

The accumulated benefit obligation for Entergy’s qualified pension plans was $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The qualified pension accumulated benefit obligation for each of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Entergy Arkansas	$1,048,901	$1,008,152
Entergy Louisiana	$1,085,318	$1,146,561
Entergy Mississippi	$273,338	$292,596
Entergy New Orleans	$125,878	$128,499
Entergy Texas	$225,379	$245,428
System Energy	$267,432	$269,583

Other Postretirement Benefits

Entergy also currently offers retiree medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits (other postretirement benefits) for eligible retired employees.  Employees who commenced employment before July 1, 2014 and who satisfy certain eligibility requirements (including retiring from Entergy after a certain age and/or years of service with Entergy and immediately commencing their Entergy pension benefit), may become eligible for other postretirement benefits.

In March 2020, Entergy announced changes to its other postretirement benefits. Effective January 1, 2021, certain retired, former non-bargaining employees age 65 and older who are eligible for Entergy-sponsored retiree welfare benefits, and their eligible spouses who are age 65 and older (collectively, Medicare-eligible participants), are eligible to participate in an Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, and are no longer eligible for retiree coverage under the Entergy Corporation Companies’ Benefits Plus Medical, Dental and Vision Plans. Under the Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, Medicare-eligible participants are eligible to participate in a health reimbursement arrangement which they may use towards the purchase of various types of qualified insurance offered through a Medicare exchange provider and for other qualified medical expenses. The changes affecting active bargaining unit employees were negotiated with the unions prior to implementation, where necessary, and to the extent required by law.

Effective January 1, 1993, Entergy adopted an accounting standard requiring a change from a cash method to an accrual method of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas have received regulatory approval to recover accrued other postretirement benefits costs through rates.  The LPSC ordered Entergy Louisiana to continue the use of the pay-as-you-go method for ratemaking purposes for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  However, the LPSC retains the flexibility to examine individual companies’ accounting for other postretirement benefits to determine if special exceptions to this order are warranted. Pursuant to regulatory directives, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy contribute the other postretirement benefits costs collected in rates into external trusts.  System Energy is funding, on behalf of Entergy Operations, other postretirement benefits associated with employees who work or worked at Grand Gulf.

Trust assets contributed by participating Registrant Subsidiaries are in master trusts, established by Entergy Corporation and maintained by a trustee.  Each participating Registrant Subsidiary holds a beneficial interest in the trusts’ assets.  The assets in the master trusts are commingled for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets are commingled, supporting records are maintained for the purpose of allocating the beneficial interest in net earnings/(losses) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts to the various participating plans and participating Registrant Subsidiaries. Beneficial interest in an investment account’s net income/(loss) is comprised of interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and expenses.  Beneficial interest from these

investments is allocated to the plans and participating Registrant Subsidiary based on their portion of net assets in the pooled accounts.

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefits Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or AOCI

Entergy Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs, including amounts capitalized and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$14,654	$24,734	$26,578
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefits obligation (APBO)	42,272	27,306	21,278
Expected return on assets	(36,732)	(43,420)	(43,220)
Amortization of prior service credit	(22,558)	(25,550)	(33,069)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	(11,446)	4,333	2,853
Net other postretirement benefits income	($13,810)	($12,597)	($25,580)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	($4,434)	($858)	($3,168)
Net (gain)/loss	(44,441)	(131,524)	6,210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	22,558	25,550	33,069
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	11,446	(4,333)	(2,853)
Total	($14,871)	($111,165)	$33,258
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($28,681)	($123,762)	$7,678

Total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs of the Registrant Subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized and deferred, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$2,965	$3,379	$878	$235	$809	$754
Interest cost on APBO	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Expected return on assets	(15,113)	—	(4,716)	(5,263)	(8,776)	(2,535)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,096	(3,804)	(955)	(916)	(4,371)	(293)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	171	(7,057)	85	466	914	—
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($1,879)	$1,449	($2,538)	($4,318)	($8,827)	($348)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	$—	($4,434)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	(23,033)	(458)	(6,883)	(7,606)	(8,790)	(3,942)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(2,096)	3,804	955	916	4,371	293
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(171)	7,057	(85)	(466)	(914)	—
Total	($25,300)	$5,969	($6,013)	($7,156)	($5,333)	($3,649)
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($27,179)	$7,418	($8,551)	($11,474)	($14,160)	($3,997)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,457	$5,633	$1,354	$397	$1,322	$1,239
Interest cost on APBO	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Expected return on assets	(17,930)	—	(5,575)	(5,997)	(10,273)	(3,162)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,885	(4,630)	(1,772)	(916)	(4,371)	(319)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	873	(744)	222	(898)	648	121
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($5,665)	$6,029	($4,370)	($6,720)	($11,078)	($1,005)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	$273	$323	($1,300)	$—	$—	$141
Net (gain)/loss	12,894	(65,501)	6,629	17,334	22,323	1,208
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(1,885)	4,630	1,772	916	4,371	319
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(873)	744	(222)	898	(648)	(121)
Total	$10,409	($59,804)	$6,879	$19,148	$26,046	$1,547
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$4,744	($53,775)	$2,509	$12,428	$14,968	$542

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,135	$6,174	$1,448	$437	$1,384	$1,340
Interest cost on APBO	3,726	4,520	1,110	521	1,269	878
Expected return on assets	(18,020)	—	(5,536)	(5,750)	(10,192)	(3,156)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,121)	(4,920)	(1,775)	(916)	(3,742)	(436)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	196	(364)	76	(712)	398	61
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($11,084)	$5,410	($4,677)	($6,420)	($10,883)	($1,313)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	($85)	$357	$—	$—	($3,776)	$69
Net (gain)/loss	9,956	(2,367)	(2,823)	(3,330)	939	210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	1,121	4,920	1,775	916	3,742	436
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(196)	364	(76)	712	(398)	(61)
Total	$10,796	$3,274	($1,124)	($1,702)	$507	$654
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($288)	$8,684	($5,801)	($8,122)	($10,376)	($659)

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Not Yet Recognized and Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$865,854	$1,189,682
Service cost	14,654	24,734
Interest cost	42,272	27,306
Plan amendments	(4,434)	(858)
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Actuarial gain	(4,303)	(297,128)
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	280	264
Balance at December 31	$837,644	$865,854
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$623,824	$771,319
Actual return on plan assets	76,870	(122,184)
Employer contributions	49,126	52,835
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$673,141	$623,824
Funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	($45,706)	($42,484)
Non-current liabilities	(118,797)	(199,546)
Total funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset
Prior service credit	($21,465)	($29,323)
Net (gain)/loss	(33,617)	16,956
	($55,082)	($12,367)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	($34,899)	($45,167)
Net gain	(116,078)	(133,656)
	($150,977)	($178,823)

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Balance Sheets of the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Service cost	2,965	3,379	878	235	809	754
Interest cost	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Plan amendments	—	(4,434)	—	—	—	—
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(6,403)	(458)	(1,650)	(1,676)	337	(1,075)
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	33	46	10	5	11	13
Balance at December 31	$155,987	$170,139	$41,344	$21,685	$51,617	$33,778
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Actual return on plan assets	31,743	—	9,949	11,193	17,903	5,402
Employer contributions	582	20,451	646	213	235	480
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$274,814	$—	$85,662	$100,536	$161,318	$45,402
Funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,049)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	118,827	(155,090)	44,318	78,851	109,701	11,624
Total funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$4,983	$—	($2,682)	($1,982)	($11,790)	($496)
Net loss/(gain)	(17,980)	—	(4,815)	(5,843)	14,542	112
	($12,997)	$—	($7,497)	($7,825)	$2,752	($384)
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,645)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(75,709)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($88,354)	$—	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$221,183	$253,031	$61,001	$31,866	$71,961	$47,875
Service cost	4,457	5,633	1,354	397	1,322	1,239
Interest cost	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Plan amendments	273	323	(1,300)	—	—	141
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Actuarial gain	(54,923)	(65,501)	(14,465)	(6,867)	(16,291)	(10,679)
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	42	57	6	7	16	17
Balance at December 31	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$315,495	$—	$97,888	$111,137	$182,285	$54,650
Actual return on plan assets	(49,887)	—	(15,519)	(18,204)	(28,341)	(8,725)
Employer contributions	1,573	16,187	759	333	(23)	944
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,356)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	91,099	(167,770)	35,131	67,169	95,317	7,160
Total funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$7,079	$—	($3,637)	($2,898)	($16,161)	($789)
Net loss	5,224	—	2,153	2,229	24,246	4,054
	$12,303	$—	($1,484)	($669)	$8,085	$3,265
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,015)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(82,308)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($94,323)	$—	$—	$—	$—

The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to updated demographic assumptions and census data coupled with an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, partially offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by asset losses due to an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets during 2022.

Non-Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy also sponsors non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  Entergy recognized net periodic pension cost related to these plans of $43.8 million in 2023, $30.9 million in 2022, and $28.6 million in 2021.  In 2023, 2022, and 2021, Entergy recognized $27.9 million, $12.2 million, and $10.9 million, respectively, in settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan that is included in the non-qualified pension plan cost above.

The projected benefit obligation was $88.6 million as of December 31, 2023 of which $13.8 million was a current liability and $74.8 million was a non-current liability. The projected benefit obligation was $152.4 million as of December 31, 2022 of which $62.4 million was a current liability and $90 million was a non-current liability.  The accumulated benefit obligation was $77.9 million and $140 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unamortized prior service cost and net loss are recognized in regulatory assets ($29.7 million at December 31, 2023 and $56.8 million at December 31, 2022) and accumulated other comprehensive income before taxes ($3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $8.7 million at December 31, 2022).

A Rabbi Trust was established for the benefit of certain participants in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans. The Rabbi Trust assets were invested in money-market funds which were recorded at fair value with all gains and losses recognized immediately in income. All of the investments were classified as Level 1 investments for purposes of Fair Value Measurements. At December 31, 2022, the fair value of the assets held in the Rabbi Trust was $35 million. In August 2023 the Rabbi Trust assets were used to pay benefits due under the non-qualified pension plans.

The following Registrant Subsidiaries participate in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  The net periodic pension cost for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans for 2023, 2022, and 2021, was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$637	$99	$808	$132	$253
2022	$282	$102	$321	$114	$1,320
2021	$343	$307	$365	$30	$615

Included in the 2023 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $379 thousand and $453 thousand for Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2022 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $1 thousand, $2 thousand, and $1 million for Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2021 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $155 thousand and $172 thousand for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan.

The projected benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$2,313	$2,574	$3,369	$1,034	$3,762
2022	$2,433	$1,197	$3,830	$1,024	$3,850

The accumulated benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$1,935	$2,494	$3,187	$814	$3,701
2022	$2,192	$1,197	$3,594	$719	$3,776

The following amounts were recorded on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($276)	($308)	($474)	($106)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,037)	(2,266)	(2,895)	(928)	(3,314)
Total funded status	($2,313)	($2,574)	($3,369)	($1,034)	($3,762)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$857	$1,604	$1,303	$5	($2,526)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$67	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($234)	($184)	($214)	($32)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,199)	(1,013)	(3,616)	(992)	(3,402)
Total funded status	($2,433)	($1,197)	($3,830)	($1,024)	($3,850)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$512	$119	$1,291	$111	($2,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$5	$—	$—	$—

The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial loss during 2023 primarily as a result of liability losses due to differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions. The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial gain during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions.

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2023:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$14,038	($452)	$13,586
Amortization of gain (loss)	(4,407)	11,590	(593)	6,590
Settlement loss	(7,844)	—	(3,004)	(10,848)
	($12,251)	$25,628	($4,049)	$9,328
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$3,804	$—	$3,804
Amortization of gain (loss)	(792)	7,057	(2)	6,263
Settlement loss	(1,617)	—	—	(1,617)
	($2,409)	$10,861	($2)	$8,450

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2022:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$16,052	($715)	$15,337
Amortization of loss	(30,147)	(2,381)	(1,331)	(33,859)
Settlement loss	(23,636)	—	(1,685)	(25,321)
	($53,783)	$13,671	($3,731)	($43,843)
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$4,630	$—	$4,630
Amortization of gain (loss)	(1,669)	744	(2)	(927)
Settlement loss	(2,342)	—	—	(2,342)
	($4,011)	$5,374	($2)	$1,361

Accounting for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Accounting standards require an employer to recognize in its balance sheet the funded status of its benefit plans.  This is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation.  Entergy uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement plans.  Employers are to record previously unrecognized gains and losses, prior service costs, and any remaining transition asset or obligation (that resulted from adopting prior pension and other postretirement benefits accounting standards) as comprehensive income and/or as a regulatory asset reflective of the recovery mechanism for pension and other postretirement benefits costs in the Registrant Subsidiaries’ respective regulatory jurisdictions.  For the portion of Entergy Louisiana that is not regulated, the unrecognized prior service cost, gains and losses, and transition asset/obligation for its pension and other postretirement benefits obligations are recorded as other comprehensive income.  Entergy Louisiana recovers other postretirement benefits costs on a pay-as-you-go basis and records the unrecognized prior

service cost, gains and losses, and transition obligation for its other postretirement benefits obligation as other comprehensive income.  Accounting standards also require that changes in the funded status be recorded as other comprehensive income and/or a regulatory asset in the period in which the changes occur.

With regard to pension and other postretirement costs, Entergy calculates the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets by multiplying the long-term expected rate of return on assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets.  Entergy determines the MRV of its pension plan assets, except for the long duration fixed income assets, by calculating a value that uses a 20-quarter phase-in of the difference between actual and expected returns. For the long duration fixed income assets in the pension trust and for its other postretirement benefits plan assets Entergy uses fair value as the MRV.

In accordance with ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”, the other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations and are presented by Entergy in miscellaneous - net in other income.

Qualified Pension Settlement Cost

Year-to-date lump sum benefit payments from Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Non-Bargaining Plan II, and Bargaining Plan II exceeded the sum of the Plans’ service and interest cost, resulting in settlement costs during 2023, 2022, and 2021. In accordance with accounting standards, settlement accounting requires immediate recognition of the portion of previously unrecognized losses associated with the settled portion of the plans’ pension liability. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy participate in one or both of Non-Bargaining Plan I and Bargaining Plan I and incurred settlement costs. Similar to other pension costs, the settlement costs were included with employee labor costs and charged to expense and capital in the same manner that labor costs were charged. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans received regulatory approval to defer the expense portion of settlement costs, with future amortization of the deferred settlement expense over the period in which the expense otherwise would be recorded had the immediate recognition not occurred.

Entergy Texas Reserve

In September 2020, Entergy Texas elected to establish a reserve, in accordance with PUCT regulations, to track the surplus or deficit in the annual amount of actuarially determined pension and other postretirement benefits chargeable to Entergy Texas’s expense. The reserve amounts recorded for 2020 and 2021 were included in the base rate case that was filed with the PUCT in July 2022, and amortization of that amount began in 2023 when interim rates became effective. The reserve amounts recorded for 2022 and through December 2023 will be evaluated in the next rate case filed by Entergy Texas, and an amortization period will be determined at that time. At December 31, 2023, the balance in this reserve was approximately $32.7 million.

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Plans’ Assets

The Plan Administrator’s trust asset investment strategy is to invest the assets in a manner whereby long-term earnings on the assets (plus cash contributions) provide adequate funding for retiree benefit payments.  The mix of assets is based on an optimization study that identifies asset allocation targets in order to achieve the maximum return for an acceptable level of risk, while minimizing the expected contributions and pension and postretirement expense.

In the optimization studies, the Plan Administrator formulates assumptions about characteristics, such as expected asset class investment returns, volatility (risk), and correlation coefficients among the various asset classes.  The future market assumptions used in the optimization study are determined by examining historical

market characteristics of the various asset classes and making adjustments to reflect future conditions expected to prevail over the study period.

The target asset allocation for pension adjusts dynamically based on the funded status of each plan within the trust. The current targets are shown below. The expectation is that the allocation to fixed income securities will increase as the pension plans’ funded status increases.  The following ranges were established to produce an acceptable, economically efficient plan to manage around the targets.

For postretirement assets the target and range asset allocations (as shown below) reflect recommendations made in the latest optimization study. The target asset allocations for postretirement assets adjust dynamically based on the funded status of each sub-account within each trust. The current weighted-average targets shown below represent the aggregate of all targets for all sub-accounts within all trusts.

Entergy’s qualified pension and postretirement weighted-average asset allocations by asset category at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the target asset allocation and ranges for 2023 are as follows:

Pension Asset Allocation	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	32%	26%	to	38%	33%	42%
International Equity Securities	17%	14%	to	20%	18%	22%
Intermediate Fixed Income Securities	8%	7%	to	9%	9%	11%
Long Duration Fixed Income Securities	43%	39%	to	47%	40%	22%
Other	—%	—%	to	10%	—%	3%

Postretirement Asset Allocation	Non-Taxable and Taxable
	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	25%	20%	to	30%	28%	25%
International Equity Securities	17%	12%	to	22%	17%	18%
Fixed Income Securities	58%	53%	to	63%	55%	57%
Other	—%	—%	to	5%	—%	—%

In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used in the calculation of benefit plan costs, Entergy reviews past performance, current and expected future asset allocations, and capital market assumptions of its investment consultant and some investment managers.

The expected long-term rate of return for the qualified pension plans’ assets is based primarily on the geometric average of the historical annual performance of a representative portfolio weighted by the target asset allocation defined in the table above, along with other indications of expected return on assets. The time period reflected is a long-dated period spanning several decades.

The expected long-term rate of return for the non-taxable postretirement trust assets is determined using the same methodology described above for pension assets, but the aggregate asset allocation specific to the non-taxable postretirement assets is used.

For the taxable postretirement trust assets, the investment allocation includes tax-exempt fixed income securities.  This asset allocation, in combination with the same methodology employed to determine the expected return for other postretirement assets (as described above), and with a modification to reflect applicable taxes, is used to produce the expected long-term rate of return for taxable postretirement trust assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Entergy’s investment guidelines mandate the avoidance of risk concentrations.  Types of concentrations specified to be avoided include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country, geographic area, and individual security issuance.  As of December 31, 2023, all investment managers and assets were materially in compliance with the approved investment guidelines, therefore there were no significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10 percent of plan assets) of credit risk in Entergy’s pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards provide the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access at the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

•Level 2 - Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are, either directly or indirectly, observable for the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Assets are valued based on prices derived by an independent party that uses inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, and issuer spreads.  Prices are reviewed and can be challenged with the independent parties and/or overridden if it is believed such would be more reflective of fair value.  Level 2 inputs include the following:

-     quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

-     quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

-     inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or

-    inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If an asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•Level 3 - Level 3 refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, a summary of the investments held in the master trusts for Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement plans in which the Registrant Subsidiaries participate.

Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$10,827	(b)	$—		$—	$10,827
Common	715,452	(b)	—		—	715,452
Common collective trusts (c)						2,066,247
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		1,085,231	(a)	—	1,085,231
Corporate debt instruments	—		924,904	(a)	—	924,904
Registered investment companies (e)	34,364	(d)	2,718	(d)	—	657,691
Other	774	(f)	78,883	(f)	—	79,657
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,899	(g)	—	5,899
Total investments	$761,417		$2,097,635		$—	$5,545,908
Cash						1,488
Other pending transactions						(22,404)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(64,391)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,460,601

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$12,178	(b)	$—		$—	$12,178
Common	807,437	(b)	—		—	807,437
Common collective trusts (c)						2,516,688
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		673,348	(a)	—	673,348
Corporate debt instruments	—		525,184	(a)	—	525,184
Registered investment companies (e)	221,582	(d)	2,595	(d)	—	750,454
Other	—		15,395	(f)	—	15,395
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,911	(g)	—	5,911
Total investments	$1,041,197		$1,222,433		$—	$5,306,595
Cash						10,601
Other pending transactions						(13,813)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(61,285)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,242,098

Other Postretirement Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$276,560
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$80,219	(b)	$84,521	(a)	$—	164,740
Corporate debt instruments	—		106,523	(a)	—	106,523
Registered investment companies	548	(d)	—		—	548
Other	—		57,511	(f)	—	57,511
Total investments	$80,767		$248,555		$—	$605,882
Other pending transactions						2,868
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						64,391
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$673,141

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$241,676
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$69,503	(b)	$78,436	(a)	$—	147,939
Corporate debt instruments	—		113,273	(a)	—	113,273
Registered investment companies	3,016	(d)	—		—	3,016
Other	—		56,149	(f)	—	56,149
Total investments	$72,519		$247,858		$—	$562,053
Other pending transactions						486
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						61,285
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$623,824

(a)Certain fixed income debt securities (corporate, government, and securitized) are stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(b)Common stocks, preferred stocks, and certain fixed income debt securities (government) are stated at fair value determined by quoted market prices.

(c)The common collective trusts hold investments in accordance with stated objectives.  The investment strategy of the trusts is to capture the growth potential of equity markets by replicating the performance of a specified index.  The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Net asset value per share of common collective trusts estimate fair value. Common collective trusts are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(d)Registered investment companies are money market mutual funds with a stable net asset value of one dollar per share. Registered investment companies may hold investments in domestic and international bond markets or domestic equities valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The money market mutual funds held by the trusts are deemed to be actively traded. Certain registered investment companies are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.

(e)Certain of these registered investment companies are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(f)The other remaining assets are U.S. municipal and foreign government bonds stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(g)The unallocated insurance contract investments are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.  The contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest, less funds used to pay benefits and contract expenses, and less distributions to the master trust.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Based upon the assumptions used to measure Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement benefits obligations at December 31, 2023, and including pension and other postretirement benefits attributable to estimated future employee service, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries will be as follows:

	Estimated Future Benefits Payments
	Qualified Pension	Non-Qualified Pension	Other Postretirement
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$463,557	$13,802	$74,649
2025	$449,803	$10,894	$70,720
2026	$450,945	$8,507	$67,105
2027	$449,510	$14,374	$63,949
2028	$450,827	$9,325	$61,234
2029 - 2033	$2,222,959	$36,584	$283,477

Based upon the same assumptions, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees will be as follows:

Estimated Future Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$90,682	$95,706	$25,534	$11,300	$21,807	$24,163
2025	$89,113	$92,420	$24,816	$10,799	$21,019	$22,053
2026	$88,427	$92,499	$25,210	$10,910	$21,268	$21,612
2027	$87,845	$91,485	$24,686	$10,566	$20,407	$22,665
2028	$87,719	$91,450	$24,147	$10,458	$20,074	$22,107
2029 - 2033	$429,882	$444,131	$115,629	$48,870	$92,182	$109,712

Estimated Future Non-Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$276	$308	$474	$106	$448
2025	$474	$301	$547	$143	$423
2026	$160	$288	$461	$139	$445
2027	$149	$265	$642	$224	$395
2028	$288	$270	$395	$141	$369
2029 - 2033	$938	$941	$1,326	$529	$1,524

Estimated Future Other Postretirement Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$13,697	$15,049	$3,521	$2,200	$5,187	$2,811
2025	$12,913	$14,380	$3,386	$2,086	$4,874	$2,668
2026	$12,342	$13,676	$3,256	$1,942	$4,436	$2,434
2027	$11,767	$13,037	$3,126	$1,785	$4,215	$2,320
2028	$11,424	$12,348	$3,121	$1,640	$3,937	$2,266
2029 - 2033	$54,789	$57,264	$14,563	$7,297	$17,857	$11,270

Contributions

Entergy currently expects to contribute approximately $270 million to its qualified pension plans and approximately $45.9 million to other postretirement plans in 2024.  The expected 2024 pension and other postretirement plan contributions of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their employees are shown below.  The 2024 required pension contributions will be known with more certainty when the January 1, 2024 valuations are completed, which is expected by April 1, 2024.

The Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute approximately the following to the qualified pension and other postretirement plans for their current and former employees in 2024:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Pension Contributions	$55,112	$48,401	$14,980	$4,931	$8,272	$16,650
Other Postretirement Contributions	$529	$15,049	$178	$205	$156	$34

Actuarial Assumptions

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the pension PBO and the other postretirement benefits APBO as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	2023	2022
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension	5.02% - 5.10% Blended 5.06%	5.21% - 5.27% Blended 5.24%
Other postretirement	5.01%	5.20%
Non-qualified pension	4.68%	4.98%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Interest crediting rate	4.00%	4.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.95%	6.65%
Post-65	7.88%	7.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032
Post-65	2032	2032

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension and other postretirement benefits costs for 2023, 2022, and 2021 were as follows:

	2023	2022	2021
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension:
Service cost	5.26%	3.07%	2.81%
Interest cost	5.16%	2.49%	2.08%
Other postretirement:
Service cost	5.00%	3.20%	2.98%
Interest cost	5.09%	2.31%	1.86%
Non-qualified pension:
Service cost	5.31%	4.94%	1.48%
Interest cost	5.30%	5.03%	2.14%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets:
Pension assets	7.00%	6.75%	6.75%
Other postretirement non-taxable assets	6.00% - 7.00%	5.75% - 6.75%	6.00% - 6.75%
Other postretirement taxable assets	5.25%	4.75%	5.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.65%	5.65%	5.87%
Post-65	7.50%	5.90%	6.31%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032	2030
Post-65	2032	2032	2028

With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 other postretirement benefits APBO. With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 other postretirement benefits APBO.

Defined Contribution Plans

Entergy sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (System Savings Plan).  The System Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan covering eligible employees of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to the System Savings Plan for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to either 70% or 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 6% of their eligible earnings per pay period.  The matching contribution is allocated to investments as directed by the employee.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VI (Savings Plan VI) (established in April 2007) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VII (Savings Plan VII)

(established in April 2007) to which matching contributions are also made.  The plans are defined contribution plans that cover eligible employees, as defined by each plan, of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2023, employees participating in Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII were transferred into the System Savings Plan when Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII merged into the System Savings Plan.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VIII (established January 2021) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries IX (established January 2021) to which company contributions are made. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to these defined contribution plans for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 5% of their eligible earnings per pay period. Eligible participants may also receive a discretionary annual company contribution up to 4% of the participant’s eligible earnings (subject to vesting).

Entergy’s subsidiaries’ contributions to defined contribution plans collectively were $65.1 million in 2023, $62.1 million in 2022, and $62.3 million in 2021.  The majority of the contributions were to the System Savings Plan.

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ 2023, 2022, and 2021 contributions to defined contribution plans for their employees were as follows:

Year	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$5,866	$7,757	$3,534	$1,383	$3,380
2022	$5,124	$7,138	$3,194	$1,223	$2,938
2021	$4,820	$6,678	$3,045	$1,140	$2,699

System Energy [Member]

Retirement Benefits [Text Block]

RETIREMENT, OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS, AND DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy)

Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy has defined benefit qualified pension plans, including the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan I), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Plan II), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III (Plan III), the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Bargaining Employees, and the Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Bargaining Employees (Bargaining Cash Balance Plan).  The Entergy Corporation Cash Balance Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan) was merged with and into Non-Bargaining Plan I effective January 1, 2022. Effective January 1, 2024, Non-Bargaining Plan I was amended to spin-off predominately inactive participants into a new qualified pension plan, Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan VI for Non-Bargaining Employees (Non-Bargaining Plan VI). The Registrant Subsidiaries participate in these plans: Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Plan III, Non-Bargaining Plan VI, and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire was prior to June 30, 2014 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) participate in a noncontributory final average pay formula that provides pension benefits based on the employee’s credited service and compensation during employment. Non-bargaining and bargaining employees whose most recent date of hire is after June 30, 2014 and before January 1, 2021 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement) do not participate in a final average pay formula, but instead participate in a cash balance formula. Effective January 1, 2021, the Non-Bargaining Cash Balance Plan and Bargaining Cash Balance Plan were amended to close participation in each plan to those employees whose most recent hire date is after December 31, 2020 (or such later date provided for in their applicable collective bargaining agreement). Employees hired after this date instead may be eligible to participate in and receive a discretionary employer contribution under an Entergy sponsored tax-qualified defined contribution plan that includes a 401(k) feature.

The assets of the defined benefit qualified pension plans are held in a master trust established by Entergy. Each pension plan has an undivided beneficial interest in each of the investment accounts in the master trust that is maintained by a trustee.  Use of the master trust permits the commingling of the trust assets of the pension plans of Entergy Corporation and its Registrant Subsidiaries for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets in the master trust are commingled, the trustee maintains supporting records for the purpose of allocating the trust level equity in net earnings (loss) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts in the trust to the various participating pension plans in the trust.  The fair value of the trust’s assets is determined by the trustee and certain investment managers.  The trustee calculates a daily earnings factor, including realized and unrealized gains or losses, collected and accrued income, and administrative expenses, and allocates earnings to each plan in the master trust on a pro rata basis.

Within each pension plan, the record of each Registrant Subsidiary’s beneficial interest in the plan assets is maintained by the plan’s actuary and is updated quarterly.  Assets for each Registrant Subsidiary are increased for investment net income and contributions and are decreased for benefit payments.  A plan’s investment net income/loss (i.e., interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses and expenses) is allocated to the Registrant Subsidiaries participating in that plan based on the value of assets for each Registrant Subsidiary at the beginning of the quarter adjusted for contributions and benefit payments made during the quarter.

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries fund pension plans in an amount not less than the minimum required contribution under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  The assets of the plans include common and preferred stocks, fixed-income securities, interest in a money market fund, and insurance contracts.  The Registrant Subsidiaries’ pension costs are recovered from customers as a component of cost of service in each of their respective jurisdictions.

Components of Qualified Net Pension Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)

Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$101,182	$138,085	$165,278
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	298,281	235,805	191,107
Expected return on assets	(388,030)	(402,504)	(424,572)
Recognized net loss	81,919	188,683	334,124
Settlement charges	160,387	230,389	205,878
Net pension cost	$253,739	$390,458	$471,815
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	($213,636)	$6,113	($448,532)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(81,919)	(188,683)	(334,124)
Settlement charge	(160,387)	(230,389)	(205,878)
Total	($455,942)	($412,959)	($988,534)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($202,203)	($22,501)	($516,719)

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 qualified pension costs and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, including amounts capitalized, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$18,461	$24,716	$5,775	$1,955	$4,328	$5,749
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Expected return on assets	(70,574)	(75,757)	(19,423)	(8,798)	(16,641)	(17,585)
Recognized net loss	19,400	19,797	5,719	1,694	4,075	4,236
Settlement charges	26,137	40,437	12,242	2,080	11,230	6,375
Net pension cost	$49,450	$69,539	$19,715	$3,678	$15,718	$12,627
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($30,674)	($71,016)	($20,220)	($3,183)	($16,759)	($3,268)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(19,400)	(19,797)	(5,719)	(1,694)	(4,075)	(4,236)
Settlement charge	(26,137)	(40,437)	(12,242)	(2,080)	(11,230)	(6,375)
Total	($76,211)	($131,250)	($38,181)	($6,957)	($32,064)	($13,879)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($26,761)	($61,711)	($18,466)	($3,279)	($16,346)	($1,252)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$25,210	$33,520	$8,043	$2,745	$5,999	$7,746
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Expected return on assets	(75,820)	(82,478)	(20,168)	(9,920)	(18,317)	(18,173)
Recognized net loss	43,597	41,711	12,594	4,787	9,013	10,938
Settlement charges	36,409	58,550	15,786	6,676	22,411	9,905
Net pension cost	$74,774	$100,633	$29,234	$9,779	$29,835	$21,702
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net (gain)/loss	$28,365	($15,604)	($4,743)	$525	$13,363	($7,063)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(43,597)	(41,711)	(12,594)	(4,787)	(9,013)	(10,938)
Settlement charge	(36,409)	(58,550)	(15,786)	(6,676)	(22,411)	(9,905)
Total	($51,641)	($115,865)	($33,123)	($10,938)	($18,061)	($27,906)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$23,133	($15,232)	($3,889)	($1,159)	$11,774	($6,204)

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Net periodic pension cost:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$28,632	$38,271	$9,070	$3,038	$6,921	$8,851
Interest cost on projected benefit obligation	35,683	39,740	10,446	4,392	8,381	9,087
Expected return on assets	(78,368)	(89,821)	(22,407)	(10,598)	(21,158)	(19,254)
Recognized net loss	69,290	67,015	20,007	7,596	12,676	18,404
Settlement charges	37,682	61,945	16,710	5,431	11,797	12,260
Net pension cost	$92,919	$117,150	$33,826	$9,859	$18,617	$29,348
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Net gain	($96,066)	($89,534)	($29,675)	($16,159)	($18,217)	($27,617)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic pension cost in the current year:
Amortization of net loss	(69,290)	(67,015)	(20,007)	(7,596)	(12,676)	(18,404)
Settlement charge	(37,682)	(61,945)	(16,710)	(5,431)	(11,797)	(12,260)
Total	($203,038)	($218,494)	($66,392)	($29,186)	($42,690)	($58,281)
Total recognized as net periodic pension cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($110,119)	($101,344)	($32,566)	($19,327)	($24,073)	($28,933)

Qualified Pension Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$6,166,106	$8,409,620
Service cost	101,182	138,085
Interest cost	298,281	235,805
Actuarial (gain)/loss	123,237	(1,660,463)
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Balance at December 31	$5,915,404	$6,166,106
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$5,242,098	$6,993,110
Actual return on plan assets	724,903	(1,264,071)
Employer contributions	267,002	470,000
Benefits paid (including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($410,110) in 2023 and ($604,753) in 2022)	(773,402)	(956,941)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$5,460,601	$5,242,098
Funded status	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($454,803)	($924,008)
Amount recognized as a regulatory asset
Net loss	$1,447,978	$1,842,348
Amount recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$347,268	$408,839

Qualified pension obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts recognized in the Balance Sheets for the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Service cost	18,461	24,716	5,775	1,955	4,328	5,749
Interest cost	56,026	60,346	15,402	6,747	12,726	13,852
Actuarial (gain)/loss	39,643	1,925	(328)	4,590	(1,416)	14,522
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Balance at December 31	$1,117,585	$1,173,283	$295,942	$133,950	$239,984	$286,558
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Actual return on plan assets	140,891	148,698	39,315	16,571	31,984	35,375
Employer contributions	54,468	44,565	21,110	1,420	5,314	15,543
Benefits paid (a)	(164,643)	(170,126)	(45,901)	(19,778)	(41,219)	(35,867)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$991,894	$1,058,711	$280,260	$117,923	$222,496	$255,443
Funded status	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($125,691)	($114,572)	($15,682)	($16,027)	($17,488)	($31,115)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$485,113	$319,116	$102,208	$44,911	$63,665	$111,996
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$13,296	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($68.7) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($103.1) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($31.4) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($5.3) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($29.4) million at Entergy Texas, and ($16.7) million at System Energy.

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in Projected Benefit Obligation (PBO)
Balance at January 1	$1,579,346	$1,736,396	$448,858	$195,380	$371,802	$394,794
Service cost	25,210	33,520	8,043	2,745	5,999	7,746
Interest cost	45,378	49,330	12,979	5,491	10,729	11,286
Actuarial gain	(280,691)	(357,572)	(88,303)	(40,462)	(65,795)	(81,504)
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Balance at December 31	$1,168,098	$1,256,422	$320,994	$140,436	$265,565	$288,302
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$1,302,588	$1,446,658	$356,424	$172,366	$341,915	$312,060
Actual return on plan assets	(233,236)	(259,490)	(63,392)	(31,067)	(60,841)	(56,267)
Employer contributions	92,971	53,658	33,287	1,129	2,513	28,619
Benefits paid (a)	(201,145)	(205,252)	(60,583)	(22,718)	(57,170)	(44,020)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$961,178	$1,035,574	$265,736	$119,710	$226,417	$240,392
Funded status	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet (funded status)
Non-current liabilities	($206,920)	($220,848)	($55,258)	($20,726)	($39,148)	($47,910)
Amounts recognized as regulatory asset
Net loss	$561,323	$445,116	$140,389	$51,868	$95,729	$125,876
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Net loss	$—	$18,546	$—	$—	$—	$—

(a)    Including settlement lump sum benefit payments of ($96) million at Entergy Arkansas, ($146.6) million at Entergy Louisiana, ($48) million at Entergy Mississippi, ($16.2) million at Entergy New Orleans, ($48.9) million at Entergy Texas, and ($23.5) million at System Energy.

The qualified pension plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to asset gains resulting from an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The qualified pension plans incurred a small net actuarial loss during 2022 primarily due to asset losses resulting from an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets, substantially offset by liability gains due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations.

Accumulated Pension Benefit Obligation

The accumulated benefit obligation for Entergy’s qualified pension plans was $5.6 billion and $5.7 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

The qualified pension accumulated benefit obligation for each of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	December 31,
	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Entergy Arkansas	$1,048,901	$1,008,152
Entergy Louisiana	$1,085,318	$1,146,561
Entergy Mississippi	$273,338	$292,596
Entergy New Orleans	$125,878	$128,499
Entergy Texas	$225,379	$245,428
System Energy	$267,432	$269,583

Other Postretirement Benefits

Entergy also currently offers retiree medical, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits (other postretirement benefits) for eligible retired employees.  Employees who commenced employment before July 1, 2014 and who satisfy certain eligibility requirements (including retiring from Entergy after a certain age and/or years of service with Entergy and immediately commencing their Entergy pension benefit), may become eligible for other postretirement benefits.

In March 2020, Entergy announced changes to its other postretirement benefits. Effective January 1, 2021, certain retired, former non-bargaining employees age 65 and older who are eligible for Entergy-sponsored retiree welfare benefits, and their eligible spouses who are age 65 and older (collectively, Medicare-eligible participants), are eligible to participate in an Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, and are no longer eligible for retiree coverage under the Entergy Corporation Companies’ Benefits Plus Medical, Dental and Vision Plans. Under the Entergy-sponsored retiree health plan, Medicare-eligible participants are eligible to participate in a health reimbursement arrangement which they may use towards the purchase of various types of qualified insurance offered through a Medicare exchange provider and for other qualified medical expenses. The changes affecting active bargaining unit employees were negotiated with the unions prior to implementation, where necessary, and to the extent required by law.

Effective January 1, 1993, Entergy adopted an accounting standard requiring a change from a cash method to an accrual method of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas have received regulatory approval to recover accrued other postretirement benefits costs through rates.  The LPSC ordered Entergy Louisiana to continue the use of the pay-as-you-go method for ratemaking purposes for postretirement benefits other than pensions.  However, the LPSC retains the flexibility to examine individual companies’ accounting for other postretirement benefits to determine if special exceptions to this order are warranted. Pursuant to regulatory directives, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy contribute the other postretirement benefits costs collected in rates into external trusts.  System Energy is funding, on behalf of Entergy Operations, other postretirement benefits associated with employees who work or worked at Grand Gulf.

Trust assets contributed by participating Registrant Subsidiaries are in master trusts, established by Entergy Corporation and maintained by a trustee.  Each participating Registrant Subsidiary holds a beneficial interest in the trusts’ assets.  The assets in the master trusts are commingled for investment and administrative purposes.  Although assets are commingled, supporting records are maintained for the purpose of allocating the beneficial interest in net earnings/(losses) and the administrative expenses of the investment accounts to the various participating plans and participating Registrant Subsidiaries. Beneficial interest in an investment account’s net income/(loss) is comprised of interest and dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, and expenses.  Beneficial interest from these

investments is allocated to the plans and participating Registrant Subsidiary based on their portion of net assets in the pooled accounts.

Components of Net Other Postretirement Benefits Cost and Other Amounts Recognized as a Regulatory Asset and/or AOCI

Entergy Corporation’s and its subsidiaries’ total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs, including amounts capitalized and amounts recognized as a regulatory asset and/or other comprehensive income, included the following components:

	2023	2022	2021
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$14,654	$24,734	$26,578
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefits obligation (APBO)	42,272	27,306	21,278
Expected return on assets	(36,732)	(43,420)	(43,220)
Amortization of prior service credit	(22,558)	(25,550)	(33,069)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	(11,446)	4,333	2,853
Net other postretirement benefits income	($13,810)	($12,597)	($25,580)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	($4,434)	($858)	($3,168)
Net (gain)/loss	(44,441)	(131,524)	6,210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	22,558	25,550	33,069
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	11,446	(4,333)	(2,853)
Total	($14,871)	($111,165)	$33,258
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($28,681)	($123,762)	$7,678

Total 2023, 2022, and 2021 other postretirement benefits costs of the Registrant Subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized and deferred, for their current and former employees included the following components:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$2,965	$3,379	$878	$235	$809	$754
Interest cost on APBO	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Expected return on assets	(15,113)	—	(4,716)	(5,263)	(8,776)	(2,535)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	2,096	(3,804)	(955)	(916)	(4,371)	(293)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	171	(7,057)	85	466	914	—
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($1,879)	$1,449	($2,538)	($4,318)	($8,827)	($348)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service credit for the period	$—	($4,434)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	(23,033)	(458)	(6,883)	(7,606)	(8,790)	(3,942)
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(2,096)	3,804	955	916	4,371	293
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(171)	7,057	(85)	(466)	(914)	—
Total	($25,300)	$5,969	($6,013)	($7,156)	($5,333)	($3,649)
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($27,179)	$7,418	($8,551)	($11,474)	($14,160)	($3,997)

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,457	$5,633	$1,354	$397	$1,322	$1,239
Interest cost on APBO	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Expected return on assets	(17,930)	—	(5,575)	(5,997)	(10,273)	(3,162)
Amortization of prior service cost/(credit)	1,885	(4,630)	(1,772)	(916)	(4,371)	(319)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	873	(744)	222	(898)	648	121
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($5,665)	$6,029	($4,370)	($6,720)	($11,078)	($1,005)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	$273	$323	($1,300)	$—	$—	$141
Net (gain)/loss	12,894	(65,501)	6,629	17,334	22,323	1,208
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit/(cost)	(1,885)	4,630	1,772	916	4,371	319
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(873)	744	(222)	898	(648)	(121)
Total	$10,409	($59,804)	$6,879	$19,148	$26,046	$1,547
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	$4,744	($53,775)	$2,509	$12,428	$14,968	$542

2021	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Other postretirement costs:
Service cost - benefits earned during the period	$4,135	$6,174	$1,448	$437	$1,384	$1,340
Interest cost on APBO	3,726	4,520	1,110	521	1,269	878
Expected return on assets	(18,020)	—	(5,536)	(5,750)	(10,192)	(3,156)
Amortization of prior service credit	(1,121)	(4,920)	(1,775)	(916)	(3,742)	(436)
Recognized net (gain)/loss	196	(364)	76	(712)	398	61
Net other postretirement benefits (income)/cost	($11,084)	$5,410	($4,677)	($6,420)	($10,883)	($1,313)
Other changes in plan assets and benefit obligations recognized as a regulatory asset and/or AOCI (before tax)
Arising this period:
Prior service cost/(credit) for the period	($85)	$357	$—	$—	($3,776)	$69
Net (gain)/loss	9,956	(2,367)	(2,823)	(3,330)	939	210
Amounts reclassified from regulatory asset and/or AOCI to net periodic benefit cost in the current year:
Amortization of prior service credit	1,121	4,920	1,775	916	3,742	436
Amortization of net gain/(loss)	(196)	364	(76)	712	(398)	(61)
Total	$10,796	$3,274	($1,124)	($1,702)	$507	$654
Total recognized as net periodic other postretirement (income)/cost, regulatory asset, and/or AOCI (before tax)	($288)	$8,684	($5,801)	($8,122)	($10,376)	($659)

Other Postretirement Benefits Obligations, Plan Assets, Funded Status, and Amounts Not Yet Recognized and Recognized in the Balance Sheet

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

	2023	2022
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$865,854	$1,189,682
Service cost	14,654	24,734
Interest cost	42,272	27,306
Plan amendments	(4,434)	(858)
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Actuarial gain	(4,303)	(297,128)
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	280	264
Balance at December 31	$837,644	$865,854
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$623,824	$771,319
Actual return on plan assets	76,870	(122,184)
Employer contributions	49,126	52,835
Plan participant contributions	18,669	22,486
Benefits paid	(95,348)	(100,632)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$673,141	$623,824
Funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	($45,706)	($42,484)
Non-current liabilities	(118,797)	(199,546)
Total funded status	($164,503)	($242,030)
Amounts recognized as a regulatory asset
Prior service credit	($21,465)	($29,323)
Net (gain)/loss	(33,617)	16,956
	($55,082)	($12,367)
Amounts recognized as AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	($34,899)	($45,167)
Net gain	(116,078)	(133,656)
	($150,977)	($178,823)

Other postretirement benefits obligations, plan assets, funded status, and amounts not yet recognized and recognized in the Balance Sheets of the Registrant Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Service cost	2,965	3,379	878	235	809	754
Interest cost	8,002	8,931	2,170	1,160	2,597	1,726
Plan amendments	—	(4,434)	—	—	—	—
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Actuarial (gain)/loss	(6,403)	(458)	(1,650)	(1,676)	337	(1,075)
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	33	46	10	5	11	13
Balance at December 31	$155,987	$170,139	$41,344	$21,685	$51,617	$33,778
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Actual return on plan assets	31,743	—	9,949	11,193	17,903	5,402
Employer contributions	582	20,451	646	213	235	480
Plan participant contributions	3,131	4,317	1,386	374	680	994
Benefits paid	(15,759)	(24,768)	(5,815)	(2,384)	(6,299)	(3,908)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$274,814	$—	$85,662	$100,536	$161,318	$45,402
Funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,049)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	118,827	(155,090)	44,318	78,851	109,701	11,624
Total funded status	$118,827	($170,139)	$44,318	$78,851	$109,701	$11,624
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$4,983	$—	($2,682)	($1,982)	($11,790)	($496)
Net loss/(gain)	(17,980)	—	(4,815)	(5,843)	14,542	112
	($12,997)	$—	($7,497)	($7,825)	$2,752	($384)
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,645)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(75,709)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($88,354)	$—	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Change in APBO
Balance at January 1	$221,183	$253,031	$61,001	$31,866	$71,961	$47,875
Service cost	4,457	5,633	1,354	397	1,322	1,239
Interest cost	5,050	5,770	1,401	694	1,596	1,116
Plan amendments	273	323	(1,300)	—	—	141
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Actuarial gain	(54,923)	(65,501)	(14,465)	(6,867)	(16,291)	(10,679)
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Medicare Part D subsidy received	42	57	6	7	16	17
Balance at December 31	$164,018	$183,126	$44,365	$23,971	$53,482	$35,274
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of assets at January 1	$315,495	$—	$97,888	$111,137	$182,285	$54,650
Actual return on plan assets	(49,887)	—	(15,519)	(18,204)	(28,341)	(8,725)
Employer contributions	1,573	16,187	759	333	(23)	944
Plan participant contributions	5,521	5,081	1,443	440	924	1,222
Benefits paid	(17,585)	(21,268)	(5,075)	(2,566)	(6,046)	(5,657)
Fair value of assets at December 31	$255,117	$—	$79,496	$91,140	$148,799	$42,434
Funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in the balance sheet
Current liabilities	$—	($15,356)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Non-current liabilities	91,099	(167,770)	35,131	67,169	95,317	7,160
Total funded status	$91,099	($183,126)	$35,131	$67,169	$95,317	$7,160
Amounts recognized in regulatory asset
Prior service cost/(credit)	$7,079	$—	($3,637)	($2,898)	($16,161)	($789)
Net loss	5,224	—	2,153	2,229	24,246	4,054
	$12,303	$—	($1,484)	($669)	$8,085	$3,265
Amounts recognized in AOCI (before tax)
Prior service credit	$—	($12,015)	$—	$—	$—	$—
Net gain	—	(82,308)	—	—	—	—
	$—	($94,323)	$—	$—	$—	$—

The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2023 primarily due to updated demographic assumptions and census data coupled with an actual return on assets much higher than the expected return on assets, partially offset by liability losses due to a decline in bond yields that resulted in decreases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations. The other postretirement plans incurred net actuarial gains during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by asset losses due to an actual return on assets much lower than the expected return on assets during 2022.

Non-Qualified Pension Plans

Entergy also sponsors non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  Entergy recognized net periodic pension cost related to these plans of $43.8 million in 2023, $30.9 million in 2022, and $28.6 million in 2021.  In 2023, 2022, and 2021, Entergy recognized $27.9 million, $12.2 million, and $10.9 million, respectively, in settlement charges related to the payment of lump sum benefits out of the plan that is included in the non-qualified pension plan cost above.

The projected benefit obligation was $88.6 million as of December 31, 2023 of which $13.8 million was a current liability and $74.8 million was a non-current liability. The projected benefit obligation was $152.4 million as of December 31, 2022 of which $62.4 million was a current liability and $90 million was a non-current liability.  The accumulated benefit obligation was $77.9 million and $140 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unamortized prior service cost and net loss are recognized in regulatory assets ($29.7 million at December 31, 2023 and $56.8 million at December 31, 2022) and accumulated other comprehensive income before taxes ($3.9 million at December 31, 2023 and $8.7 million at December 31, 2022).

A Rabbi Trust was established for the benefit of certain participants in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans. The Rabbi Trust assets were invested in money-market funds which were recorded at fair value with all gains and losses recognized immediately in income. All of the investments were classified as Level 1 investments for purposes of Fair Value Measurements. At December 31, 2022, the fair value of the assets held in the Rabbi Trust was $35 million. In August 2023 the Rabbi Trust assets were used to pay benefits due under the non-qualified pension plans.

The following Registrant Subsidiaries participate in Entergy’s non-qualified, non-contributory defined benefit pension plans that provide benefits to certain key employees.  The net periodic pension cost for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans for 2023, 2022, and 2021, was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$637	$99	$808	$132	$253
2022	$282	$102	$321	$114	$1,320
2021	$343	$307	$365	$30	$615

Included in the 2023 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $379 thousand and $453 thousand for Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2022 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $1 thousand, $2 thousand, and $1 million for Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan. Included in the 2021 net periodic pension cost above are settlement charges of $155 thousand and $172 thousand for Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Texas, respectively, related to the lump sum benefits paid out of the plan.

The projected benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$2,313	$2,574	$3,369	$1,034	$3,762
2022	$2,433	$1,197	$3,830	$1,024	$3,850

The accumulated benefit obligation for their current and former employees for the non-qualified plans as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 was as follows:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$1,935	$2,494	$3,187	$814	$3,701
2022	$2,192	$1,197	$3,594	$719	$3,776

The following amounts were recorded on the balance sheet as of December 31, 2023 and 2022:

2023	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($276)	($308)	($474)	($106)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,037)	(2,266)	(2,895)	(928)	(3,314)
Total funded status	($2,313)	($2,574)	($3,369)	($1,034)	($3,762)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$857	$1,604	$1,303	$5	($2,526)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$67	$—	$—	$—

2022	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Current liabilities	($234)	($184)	($214)	($32)	($448)
Non-current liabilities	(2,199)	(1,013)	(3,616)	(992)	(3,402)
Total funded status	($2,433)	($1,197)	($3,830)	($1,024)	($3,850)
Regulatory asset/(liability)	$512	$119	$1,291	$111	($2,615)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (before taxes)	$—	$5	$—	$—	$—

The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial loss during 2023 primarily as a result of liability losses due to differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions. The non-qualified pension plans incurred a small actuarial gain during 2022 primarily due to a rise in bond yields that resulted in increases to the discount rates used to develop the benefit obligations, partially offset by differences in recent retirement and lump sum experience relative to actuarial assumptions.

Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2023:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$14,038	($452)	$13,586
Amortization of gain (loss)	(4,407)	11,590	(593)	6,590
Settlement loss	(7,844)	—	(3,004)	(10,848)
	($12,251)	$25,628	($4,049)	$9,328
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$3,804	$—	$3,804
Amortization of gain (loss)	(792)	7,057	(2)	6,263
Settlement loss	(1,617)	—	—	(1,617)
	($2,409)	$10,861	($2)	$8,450

Entergy and Entergy Louisiana reclassified the following costs out of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (before taxes and including amounts capitalized) as of December 31, 2022:

	Qualified Pension Costs	Other Postretirement Costs	Non-Qualified Pension Costs	Total
	(In Thousands)
Entergy
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$16,052	($715)	$15,337
Amortization of loss	(30,147)	(2,381)	(1,331)	(33,859)
Settlement loss	(23,636)	—	(1,685)	(25,321)
	($53,783)	$13,671	($3,731)	($43,843)
Entergy Louisiana
Amortization of prior service cost	$—	$4,630	$—	$4,630
Amortization of gain (loss)	(1,669)	744	(2)	(927)
Settlement loss	(2,342)	—	—	(2,342)
	($4,011)	$5,374	($2)	$1,361

Accounting for Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

Accounting standards require an employer to recognize in its balance sheet the funded status of its benefit plans.  This is measured as the difference between plan assets at fair value and the benefit obligation.  Entergy uses a December 31 measurement date for its pension and other postretirement plans.  Employers are to record previously unrecognized gains and losses, prior service costs, and any remaining transition asset or obligation (that resulted from adopting prior pension and other postretirement benefits accounting standards) as comprehensive income and/or as a regulatory asset reflective of the recovery mechanism for pension and other postretirement benefits costs in the Registrant Subsidiaries’ respective regulatory jurisdictions.  For the portion of Entergy Louisiana that is not regulated, the unrecognized prior service cost, gains and losses, and transition asset/obligation for its pension and other postretirement benefits obligations are recorded as other comprehensive income.  Entergy Louisiana recovers other postretirement benefits costs on a pay-as-you-go basis and records the unrecognized prior

service cost, gains and losses, and transition obligation for its other postretirement benefits obligation as other comprehensive income.  Accounting standards also require that changes in the funded status be recorded as other comprehensive income and/or a regulatory asset in the period in which the changes occur.

With regard to pension and other postretirement costs, Entergy calculates the expected return on pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets by multiplying the long-term expected rate of return on assets by the market-related value (MRV) of plan assets.  Entergy determines the MRV of its pension plan assets, except for the long duration fixed income assets, by calculating a value that uses a 20-quarter phase-in of the difference between actual and expected returns. For the long duration fixed income assets in the pension trust and for its other postretirement benefits plan assets Entergy uses fair value as the MRV.

In accordance with ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost”, the other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations and are presented by Entergy in miscellaneous - net in other income.

Qualified Pension Settlement Cost

Year-to-date lump sum benefit payments from Non-Bargaining Plan I, Bargaining Plan I, Non-Bargaining Plan II, and Bargaining Plan II exceeded the sum of the Plans’ service and interest cost, resulting in settlement costs during 2023, 2022, and 2021. In accordance with accounting standards, settlement accounting requires immediate recognition of the portion of previously unrecognized losses associated with the settled portion of the plans’ pension liability. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy participate in one or both of Non-Bargaining Plan I and Bargaining Plan I and incurred settlement costs. Similar to other pension costs, the settlement costs were included with employee labor costs and charged to expense and capital in the same manner that labor costs were charged. Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans received regulatory approval to defer the expense portion of settlement costs, with future amortization of the deferred settlement expense over the period in which the expense otherwise would be recorded had the immediate recognition not occurred.

Entergy Texas Reserve

In September 2020, Entergy Texas elected to establish a reserve, in accordance with PUCT regulations, to track the surplus or deficit in the annual amount of actuarially determined pension and other postretirement benefits chargeable to Entergy Texas’s expense. The reserve amounts recorded for 2020 and 2021 were included in the base rate case that was filed with the PUCT in July 2022, and amortization of that amount began in 2023 when interim rates became effective. The reserve amounts recorded for 2022 and through December 2023 will be evaluated in the next rate case filed by Entergy Texas, and an amortization period will be determined at that time. At December 31, 2023, the balance in this reserve was approximately $32.7 million.

Qualified Pension and Other Postretirement Plans’ Assets

The Plan Administrator’s trust asset investment strategy is to invest the assets in a manner whereby long-term earnings on the assets (plus cash contributions) provide adequate funding for retiree benefit payments.  The mix of assets is based on an optimization study that identifies asset allocation targets in order to achieve the maximum return for an acceptable level of risk, while minimizing the expected contributions and pension and postretirement expense.

In the optimization studies, the Plan Administrator formulates assumptions about characteristics, such as expected asset class investment returns, volatility (risk), and correlation coefficients among the various asset classes.  The future market assumptions used in the optimization study are determined by examining historical

market characteristics of the various asset classes and making adjustments to reflect future conditions expected to prevail over the study period.

The target asset allocation for pension adjusts dynamically based on the funded status of each plan within the trust. The current targets are shown below. The expectation is that the allocation to fixed income securities will increase as the pension plans’ funded status increases.  The following ranges were established to produce an acceptable, economically efficient plan to manage around the targets.

For postretirement assets the target and range asset allocations (as shown below) reflect recommendations made in the latest optimization study. The target asset allocations for postretirement assets adjust dynamically based on the funded status of each sub-account within each trust. The current weighted-average targets shown below represent the aggregate of all targets for all sub-accounts within all trusts.

Entergy’s qualified pension and postretirement weighted-average asset allocations by asset category at December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the target asset allocation and ranges for 2023 are as follows:

Pension Asset Allocation	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	32%	26%	to	38%	33%	42%
International Equity Securities	17%	14%	to	20%	18%	22%
Intermediate Fixed Income Securities	8%	7%	to	9%	9%	11%
Long Duration Fixed Income Securities	43%	39%	to	47%	40%	22%
Other	—%	—%	to	10%	—%	3%

Postretirement Asset Allocation	Non-Taxable and Taxable
	Target	Range			Actual 2023	Actual 2022
Domestic Equity Securities	25%	20%	to	30%	28%	25%
International Equity Securities	17%	12%	to	22%	17%	18%
Fixed Income Securities	58%	53%	to	63%	55%	57%
Other	—%	—%	to	5%	—%	—%

In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets used in the calculation of benefit plan costs, Entergy reviews past performance, current and expected future asset allocations, and capital market assumptions of its investment consultant and some investment managers.

The expected long-term rate of return for the qualified pension plans’ assets is based primarily on the geometric average of the historical annual performance of a representative portfolio weighted by the target asset allocation defined in the table above, along with other indications of expected return on assets. The time period reflected is a long-dated period spanning several decades.

The expected long-term rate of return for the non-taxable postretirement trust assets is determined using the same methodology described above for pension assets, but the aggregate asset allocation specific to the non-taxable postretirement assets is used.

For the taxable postretirement trust assets, the investment allocation includes tax-exempt fixed income securities.  This asset allocation, in combination with the same methodology employed to determine the expected return for other postretirement assets (as described above), and with a modification to reflect applicable taxes, is used to produce the expected long-term rate of return for taxable postretirement trust assets.

Concentrations of Credit Risk

Entergy’s investment guidelines mandate the avoidance of risk concentrations.  Types of concentrations specified to be avoided include, but are not limited to, investment concentrations in a single entity, type of industry, foreign country, geographic area, and individual security issuance.  As of December 31, 2023, all investment managers and assets were materially in compliance with the approved investment guidelines, therefore there were no significant concentrations (defined as greater than 10 percent of plan assets) of credit risk in Entergy’s pension and other postretirement benefits plan assets.

Fair Value Measurements

Accounting standards provide the framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).

The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

•Level 1 - Level 1 inputs are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access at the measurement date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset or liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

•Level 2 - Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are, either directly or indirectly, observable for the asset or liability at the measurement date.  Assets are valued based on prices derived by an independent party that uses inputs such as benchmark yields, reported trades, broker/dealer quotes, and issuer spreads.  Prices are reviewed and can be challenged with the independent parties and/or overridden if it is believed such would be more reflective of fair value.  Level 2 inputs include the following:

-     quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;

-     quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in inactive markets;

-     inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; or

-    inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.

If an asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.

•Level 3 - Level 3 refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs.

Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy, measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, a summary of the investments held in the master trusts for Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement plans in which the Registrant Subsidiaries participate.

Qualified Defined Benefit Pension Plan Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$10,827	(b)	$—		$—	$10,827
Common	715,452	(b)	—		—	715,452
Common collective trusts (c)						2,066,247
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		1,085,231	(a)	—	1,085,231
Corporate debt instruments	—		924,904	(a)	—	924,904
Registered investment companies (e)	34,364	(d)	2,718	(d)	—	657,691
Other	774	(f)	78,883	(f)	—	79,657
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,899	(g)	—	5,899
Total investments	$761,417		$2,097,635		$—	$5,545,908
Cash						1,488
Other pending transactions						(22,404)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(64,391)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,460,601

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Corporate stocks:
Preferred	$12,178	(b)	$—		$—	$12,178
Common	807,437	(b)	—		—	807,437
Common collective trusts (c)						2,516,688
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	—		673,348	(a)	—	673,348
Corporate debt instruments	—		525,184	(a)	—	525,184
Registered investment companies (e)	221,582	(d)	2,595	(d)	—	750,454
Other	—		15,395	(f)	—	15,395
Other:
Insurance company general account (unallocated contracts)	—		5,911	(g)	—	5,911
Total investments	$1,041,197		$1,222,433		$—	$5,306,595
Cash						10,601
Other pending transactions						(13,813)
Less: Other postretirement assets included in total investments						(61,285)
Total fair value of qualified pension assets						$5,242,098

Other Postretirement Trusts

2023	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$276,560
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$80,219	(b)	$84,521	(a)	$—	164,740
Corporate debt instruments	—		106,523	(a)	—	106,523
Registered investment companies	548	(d)	—		—	548
Other	—		57,511	(f)	—	57,511
Total investments	$80,767		$248,555		$—	$605,882
Other pending transactions						2,868
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						64,391
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$673,141

2022	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3	Total
	(In Thousands)
Equity securities:
Common collective trust (c)						$241,676
Fixed income securities:
U.S. Government securities	$69,503	(b)	$78,436	(a)	$—	147,939
Corporate debt instruments	—		113,273	(a)	—	113,273
Registered investment companies	3,016	(d)	—		—	3,016
Other	—		56,149	(f)	—	56,149
Total investments	$72,519		$247,858		$—	$562,053
Other pending transactions						486
Plus: Other postretirement assets included in the investments of the qualified pension trust						61,285
Total fair value of other postretirement assets						$623,824

(a)Certain fixed income debt securities (corporate, government, and securitized) are stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(b)Common stocks, preferred stocks, and certain fixed income debt securities (government) are stated at fair value determined by quoted market prices.

(c)The common collective trusts hold investments in accordance with stated objectives.  The investment strategy of the trusts is to capture the growth potential of equity markets by replicating the performance of a specified index.  The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Net asset value per share of common collective trusts estimate fair value. Common collective trusts are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(d)Registered investment companies are money market mutual funds with a stable net asset value of one dollar per share. Registered investment companies may hold investments in domestic and international bond markets or domestic equities valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The money market mutual funds held by the trusts are deemed to be actively traded. Certain registered investment companies are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.

(e)Certain of these registered investment companies are not publicly quoted and are valued by the fund administrators using net asset value as a practical expedient. The issuer of these funds allows daily trading at the net asset value and trades settle at a later date, with no other trading restrictions. Accordingly, these funds are not assigned a level in the fair value table, but are included in the total.

(f)The other remaining assets are U.S. municipal and foreign government bonds stated at fair value as determined by broker quotes.

(g)The unallocated insurance contract investments are recorded at contract value, which approximates fair value.  The contract value represents contributions made under the contract, plus interest, less funds used to pay benefits and contract expenses, and less distributions to the master trust.

Estimated Future Benefit Payments

Based upon the assumptions used to measure Entergy’s qualified pension and other postretirement benefits obligations at December 31, 2023, and including pension and other postretirement benefits attributable to estimated future employee service, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries will be as follows:

	Estimated Future Benefits Payments
	Qualified Pension	Non-Qualified Pension	Other Postretirement
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$463,557	$13,802	$74,649
2025	$449,803	$10,894	$70,720
2026	$450,945	$8,507	$67,105
2027	$449,510	$14,374	$63,949
2028	$450,827	$9,325	$61,234
2029 - 2033	$2,222,959	$36,584	$283,477

Based upon the same assumptions, Entergy expects that benefits to be paid over the next ten years for the Registrant Subsidiaries for their current and former employees will be as follows:

Estimated Future Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$90,682	$95,706	$25,534	$11,300	$21,807	$24,163
2025	$89,113	$92,420	$24,816	$10,799	$21,019	$22,053
2026	$88,427	$92,499	$25,210	$10,910	$21,268	$21,612
2027	$87,845	$91,485	$24,686	$10,566	$20,407	$22,665
2028	$87,719	$91,450	$24,147	$10,458	$20,074	$22,107
2029 - 2033	$429,882	$444,131	$115,629	$48,870	$92,182	$109,712

Estimated Future Non-Qualified Pension Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$276	$308	$474	$106	$448
2025	$474	$301	$547	$143	$423
2026	$160	$288	$461	$139	$445
2027	$149	$265	$642	$224	$395
2028	$288	$270	$395	$141	$369
2029 - 2033	$938	$941	$1,326	$529	$1,524

Estimated Future Other Postretirement Benefits Payments	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Year(s)
2024	$13,697	$15,049	$3,521	$2,200	$5,187	$2,811
2025	$12,913	$14,380	$3,386	$2,086	$4,874	$2,668
2026	$12,342	$13,676	$3,256	$1,942	$4,436	$2,434
2027	$11,767	$13,037	$3,126	$1,785	$4,215	$2,320
2028	$11,424	$12,348	$3,121	$1,640	$3,937	$2,266
2029 - 2033	$54,789	$57,264	$14,563	$7,297	$17,857	$11,270

Contributions

Entergy currently expects to contribute approximately $270 million to its qualified pension plans and approximately $45.9 million to other postretirement plans in 2024.  The expected 2024 pension and other postretirement plan contributions of the Registrant Subsidiaries for their employees are shown below.  The 2024 required pension contributions will be known with more certainty when the January 1, 2024 valuations are completed, which is expected by April 1, 2024.

The Registrant Subsidiaries expect to contribute approximately the following to the qualified pension and other postretirement plans for their current and former employees in 2024:

	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas	System Energy
	(In Thousands)
Pension Contributions	$55,112	$48,401	$14,980	$4,931	$8,272	$16,650
Other Postretirement Contributions	$529	$15,049	$178	$205	$156	$34

Actuarial Assumptions

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the pension PBO and the other postretirement benefits APBO as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 were as follows:

	2023	2022
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension	5.02% - 5.10% Blended 5.06%	5.21% - 5.27% Blended 5.24%
Other postretirement	5.01%	5.20%
Non-qualified pension	4.68%	4.98%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Interest crediting rate	4.00%	4.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.95%	6.65%
Post-65	7.88%	7.50%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032
Post-65	2032	2032

The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the net periodic pension and other postretirement benefits costs for 2023, 2022, and 2021 were as follows:

	2023	2022	2021
Weighted-average discount rate:
Qualified pension:
Service cost	5.26%	3.07%	2.81%
Interest cost	5.16%	2.49%	2.08%
Other postretirement:
Service cost	5.00%	3.20%	2.98%
Interest cost	5.09%	2.31%	1.86%
Non-qualified pension:
Service cost	5.31%	4.94%	1.48%
Interest cost	5.30%	5.03%	2.14%
Weighted-average rate of increase in future compensation levels	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%	3.98% - 4.40%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets:
Pension assets	7.00%	6.75%	6.75%
Other postretirement non-taxable assets	6.00% - 7.00%	5.75% - 6.75%	6.00% - 6.75%
Other postretirement taxable assets	5.25%	4.75%	5.00%
Assumed health care trend rate:
Pre-65	6.65%	5.65%	5.87%
Post-65	7.50%	5.90%	6.31%
Ultimate health care cost trend rate	4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Year ultimate health care cost trend rate is reached and beyond:
Pre-65	2032	2032	2030
Post-65	2032	2032	2028

With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Table, projected generationally using Scale MP-2021 with Aon’s Endemic Adjustment, in determining its December 31, 2023 other postretirement benefits APBO. With respect to the mortality assumptions, Entergy used the Pri-2012 Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 pension plans’ PBOs and the Pri.H 2012 (headcount weighted) Employee and Healthy Annuitant Tables with a fully generational MP-2020 projection scale, in determining its December 31, 2022 other postretirement benefits APBO.

Defined Contribution Plans

Entergy sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (System Savings Plan).  The System Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan covering eligible employees of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to the System Savings Plan for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to either 70% or 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 6% of their eligible earnings per pay period.  The matching contribution is allocated to investments as directed by the employee.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VI (Savings Plan VI) (established in April 2007) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VII (Savings Plan VII)

(established in April 2007) to which matching contributions are also made.  The plans are defined contribution plans that cover eligible employees, as defined by each plan, of Entergy and certain of its subsidiaries. Effective December 31, 2023, employees participating in Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII were transferred into the System Savings Plan when Savings Plan VI and Savings Plan VII merged into the System Savings Plan.

Entergy also sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries VIII (established January 2021) and the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries IX (established January 2021) to which company contributions are made. The participating Entergy subsidiary makes matching contributions to these defined contribution plans for all eligible participating employees in an amount equal to 100% of the participants’ basic contributions, up to 5% of their eligible earnings per pay period. Eligible participants may also receive a discretionary annual company contribution up to 4% of the participant’s eligible earnings (subject to vesting).

Entergy’s subsidiaries’ contributions to defined contribution plans collectively were $65.1 million in 2023, $62.1 million in 2022, and $62.3 million in 2021.  The majority of the contributions were to the System Savings Plan.

The Registrant Subsidiaries’ 2023, 2022, and 2021 contributions to defined contribution plans for their employees were as follows:

Year	Entergy Arkansas	Entergy Louisiana	Entergy Mississippi	Entergy New Orleans	Entergy Texas
	(In Thousands)
2023	$5,866	$7,757	$3,534	$1,383	$3,380
2022	$5,124	$7,138	$3,194	$1,223	$2,938
2021	$4,820	$6,678	$3,045	$1,140	$2,699