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Rate And Regulatory Matters | 6 Months Ended
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Jun. 30, 2014
Rate And Regulatory Matters | RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy) Regulatory Assets See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries. The following is an update to that discussion. Fuel and purchased power cost recovery Entergy Arkansas In May 2014, Entergy Arkansas filed its annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider to recover the $3 million unrecovered retail balance as of December 31, 2013 and the $68 million System Agreement bandwidth remedy payment made in May 2014 as a result of the compliance filing pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders related to the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. In June 2014 the APSC suspended the annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider and scheduled a hearing in September 2014. Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi had a deferred fuel balance of $60.4 million as of March 31, 2014. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed for an interim adjustment under its energy cost recovery rider. The interim adjustment proposed a net energy cost factor designed to collect over a six-month period the under-recovered deferred fuel balance as of March 31, 2014 and also reflects a natural gas price of $4.50 per MMBtu. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi and the Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation in which Entergy Mississippi agreed to a revised net energy cost factor that reflected the proposed interim adjustment with a reduction in costs recovered through the energy cost recovery rider associated with the suspension of the DOE nuclear waste storage fee. In June 2014 the MPSC approved the joint stipulation and allowed Entergy Mississippi’s interim adjustment. The revised net energy cost factor will remain in effect through the end of 2014. Retail Rate Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for detailed information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to that information. Filings with the LPSC Retail Rates - Electric (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement and adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $3.8 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. (Entergy Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the $10 million agreed-upon increase in formula rate plan revenue, the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement, and the adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $39 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. As discussed in the Form 10-K, the LPSC is conducting a prudence review of the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project with regard to the following aspects of the project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. In July 2014 the LPSC Staff filed testimony recommending potential project and replacement power cost disallowances of up $71 million, citing a need for further explanation or documentation from Entergy Louisiana. An intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of $141 million of incremental project costs, claiming the steam generator fabricator was imprudent. Entergy Louisiana believes that the replacement steam generator costs were prudently incurred and applicable legal principles support their recovery in rates. Entergy Louisiana will provide further documentation and explanation requested by the LPSC staff. Cross-answering testimony is due in August 2014 and rebuttal testimony is due in September 2014. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for December 2014. Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) In January 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2013. The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 5.47%, which results in a $1.5 million rate increase. In April 2014 the LPSC Staff issued a report indicating "that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana has properly determined its earnings for the test year ended September 30, 2013." The $1.5 million rate increase was implemented effective with the first billing cycle of April 2014. Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi) In June 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed its first general rate case before the MPSC in almost 12 years. The rate filing lays out Entergy Mississippi’s plans for improving reliability, modernizing the grid, maintaining its workforce, stabilizing rates, utilizing new technologies, and attracting new industry to its service territory. Entergy Mississippi requests a net increase in revenue of $49 million for bills rendered during calendar year 2015, including $30 million resulting from new depreciation rates to update the estimated service life of assets. In addition, the filing proposes, among other things: 1) realigning cost recovery of the Attala and Hinds power plant acquisitions from the power management rider to base rates; 2) including certain MISO-related revenues and expenses in the power management rider; 3) power management rider changes that reflect the changes in costs and revenues that will accompany Entergy Mississippi’s withdrawal from participation in the System Agreement; and 4) a formula rate plan forward test year to allow for known changes in expenses and revenues for the rate effective period. Entergy Mississippi proposes maintaining the current authorized return on common equity of 10.59%. A hearing is scheduled for November 2014, and the procedural schedule calls for rates to be effective January 30, 2015. Filings with the City Council (Entergy Louisiana) In March 2013, Entergy Louisiana filed a rate case for the Algiers area, which is in New Orleans and is regulated by the City Council. Entergy Louisiana requested a rate increase of $13 million over three years, including a 10.4% return on common equity and a formula rate plan mechanism identical to its LPSC request made in February 2013. In January 2014 the City Council advisors filed direct testimony recommending a rate increase of $5.56 million over three years, including an 8.13% return on common equity. In June 2014 the City Council unanimously approved a settlement that includes the following:
• | a $9.3 million base rate revenue increase to be phased in on a levelized basis over four years;
• | recovery of an additional $853 thousand annually through a MISO recovery rider; and
• | the adoption of a four-year formula rate plan requiring the filing of annual evaluation reports in May of each year, commencing May 2015, with resulting rates being implemented in October of each year. The formula rate plan includes a midpoint target authorized return on common equity of 9.95% with a +/- 40 basis point bandwidth.
The rate increase was effective with bills rendered on and after the first billing cycle of July 2014. Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Texas) 2013 Rate Case In September 2013, Entergy Texas filed a rate case requesting a $38.6 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.4% return on common equity based on an adjusted test year ending March 31, 2013. The rate case also proposed (1) a rough production cost equalization adjustment rider recovering Entergy Texas’s payment to Entergy New Orleans to achieve rough production cost equalization based on calendar year 2012 production costs and (2) a rate case expense rider recovering the cost of the 2013 rate case and certain costs associated with previous rate cases. The rate case filing also included a request to reconcile $0.9 billion of fuel and purchased power costs and fuel revenues covering the period July 2011 through March 2013. The fuel reconciliation also reflects special circumstances fuel cost recovery of approximately $22 million of purchased power capacity costs. In January 2014 the PUCT staff filed direct testimony recommending a retail rate reduction of $0.3 million and a 9.2% return on common equity. In March 2014, Entergy Texas filed an Agreed Motion for Interim Rates. The motion explained that the parties to this proceeding have agreed that Entergy Texas should be allowed to implement new rates reflecting an $18.5 million base rate increase, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2014, as well as recovery of charges for rough production cost equalization and rate case expenses. In March 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the body assigned to hear the case, approved the motion. In April 2014, Entergy Texas filed a unanimous stipulation in this case. Among other things, the stipulation provides for an $18.5 million base rate increase, recovery over three years of the calendar year 2012 rough production cost equalization charges and rate case expenses, and states a 9.8% return on common equity. In addition, the stipulation finalizes the fuel and purchased power reconciliation covering the period July 2011 through March 2013, with the parties stipulating an immaterial fuel disallowance. No special circumstances recovery of purchased power capacity costs was allowed. In April 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case back to the PUCT for final processing. In May 2014 the PUCT approved the stipulation. No motions for rehearing were filed during the statutory rehearing period. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Business Combination Study In June 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a business combination study report with the LPSC. The report contains a preliminary analysis of the potential combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana into a single public utility. Though not a formal application, the report provides an overview of the combination and identifies its potential customer benefits. Although not part of the business combination, Entergy Louisiana provided notice to the City Council in June 2014 that it anticipates it will seek authorization to transfer to Entergy New Orleans the assets that currently support Entergy Louisiana’s customers in Algiers. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will hold technical conferences and face-to-face meetings with LPSC staff, City Council advisors, and other stakeholders to discuss potential effects of the combination, solicit suggestions and concerns, and identify areas in which additional information might be needed. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana held a technical conference at the LPSC to discuss the business combination in July 2014 and scheduled a second technical conference to be held in August 2014. System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC’s October 2011 order and Entergy’s December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order. In February 2014 the FERC issued a rehearing order addressing its October 2011 order. The FERC denied the LPSC’s request for rehearing on the issues of whether the bandwidth remedy should be made effective earlier than June 1, 2005, and whether refunds should be ordered for the 20-month refund effective period. The FERC granted the LPSC’s rehearing request on the issue of interest on the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period, requiring that interest be accrued from June 1, 2006 until the date those bandwidth payments/receipts are made. In April 2014 the LPSC filed a petition for review of the FERC’s October 2011 and February 2014 orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Also in February 2014 the FERC issued an order rejecting the December 2011 compliance filing that calculated the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. The FERC order requires a new compliance filing that calculates the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period based on monthly data for the seven individual months and that includes interest pursuant to the February 2014 rehearing order. Entergy has sought rehearing of the February 2014 orders with respect to the FERC’s determinations regarding interest. In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC an updated compliance filing that provides the payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders. The filing shows the following net payments and receipts, including interest, among the Utility operating companies:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Arkansas | $68 |
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | ($10) |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | ($11) |
Entergy New Orleans | $2 |
Entergy Texas | ($49) |
These payments were made in May 2014. The LPSC, City Council, and APSC have filed protests. 2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In August 2014 the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion dismissing the LPSC petition for review of the FERC’s order. Comprehensive Bandwidth Recalculation for 2007, 2008, and 2009 Rate Filing Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this comprehensive bandwidth recalculation. In July 2014 the FERC issued four orders in connection with various Service Schedule MSS-3 rough production cost equalization formula compliance filings and rehearing requests. Specifically, the FERC accepted Entergy Services’ revised methodologies for calculating certain cost components of the formula and affirmed its prior ruling requiring interest on the true-up amounts. The FERC directed that a comprehensive recalculation of the formula be performed for the filing years 2007 and 2008 based on calendar years 2006 and 2007 production costs. The comprehensive recalculation is due to be filed with the FERC within 45 days of the orders, or on September 15, 2014 and the bandwidth payments associated with the recalculations are expected to be made in October 2014. Management is evaluating the effect of these orders on the 2009 rate filing proceeding. 2011 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2010 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In March 2014 the Fifth Circuit rejected the LPSC’s petition for a writ of mandamus. 2014 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2013 Production Costs In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2014 rates in accordance with the FERC’s orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2014, based on calendar year 2013 production costs, commencing for service in June 2014, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC’s orders:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | $— |
Entergy New Orleans | ($15) |
Entergy Texas | $15 |
The LPSC protested the filing and the PUCT and City Council filed comments regarding the filing. Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $73.8 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $247.7 million for Entergy Louisiana. In January 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana drew $65 million and $187 million, respectively, from their funded storm reserve escrow accounts. In April 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a joint application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Following an evidentiary hearing and recommendations by the ALJ, the LPSC voted in June 2014 to approve a series of orders which (i) quantify the amount of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs prudently incurred ($66.5 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $224.3 million for Entergy Louisiana); (ii) determine the level of storm reserves to be re-established ($90 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $200 million for Entergy Louisiana); (iii) authorize Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana to utilize Louisiana Act 55 financing for Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs; and (iv) grant other requested relief associated with storm reserves and Act 55 financing of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Approvals for the Act 55 financings were obtained from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC) and the Louisiana State Bond Commission. In August 2014 the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA) issued $71 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $69 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $3 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $66 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana then immediately used the $66 million to acquire 662,426.80 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. In August 2014 the LCDA issued another $243.85 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $240 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $13 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $227 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana then immediately used the $227 million to acquire 2,272,725.89 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LCDA and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default. To service the bonds, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will collect a system restoration charge on behalf of the LURC, and remit the collections to the bond indenture trustee. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the collections as revenue because they are merely acting as the billing and collection agents for the state. Entergy New Orleans As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of Entergy New Orleans’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $47.3 million. Entergy New Orleans withdrew $17.4 million from the storm reserve escrow account to partially offset these costs. In February 2014, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council seeking certification of the Hurricane Isaac costs. In July 2014 the City Council adopted a procedural schedule that provides for hearings on the merits in September 2015.
Entergy Arkansas [Member] |
Rate And Regulatory Matters | RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy) Regulatory Assets See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries. The following is an update to that discussion. Fuel and purchased power cost recovery Entergy Arkansas In May 2014, Entergy Arkansas filed its annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider to recover the $3 million unrecovered retail balance as of December 31, 2013 and the $68 million System Agreement bandwidth remedy payment made in May 2014 as a result of the compliance filing pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders related to the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. In June 2014 the APSC suspended the annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider and scheduled a hearing in September 2014. Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi had a deferred fuel balance of $60.4 million as of March 31, 2014. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed for an interim adjustment under its energy cost recovery rider. The interim adjustment proposed a net energy cost factor designed to collect over a six-month period the under-recovered deferred fuel balance as of March 31, 2014 and also reflects a natural gas price of $4.50 per MMBtu. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi and the Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation in which Entergy Mississippi agreed to a revised net energy cost factor that reflected the proposed interim adjustment with a reduction in costs recovered through the energy cost recovery rider associated with the suspension of the DOE nuclear waste storage fee. In June 2014 the MPSC approved the joint stipulation and allowed Entergy Mississippi’s interim adjustment. The revised net energy cost factor will remain in effect through the end of 2014. Retail Rate Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for detailed information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to that information. Filings with the LPSC Retail Rates - Electric (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement and adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $3.8 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. (Entergy Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the $10 million agreed-upon increase in formula rate plan revenue, the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement, and the adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $39 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. As discussed in the Form 10-K, the LPSC is conducting a prudence review of the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project with regard to the following aspects of the project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. In July 2014 the LPSC Staff filed testimony recommending potential project and replacement power cost disallowances of up $71 million, citing a need for further explanation or documentation from Entergy Louisiana. An intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of $141 million of incremental project costs, claiming the steam generator fabricator was imprudent. Entergy Louisiana believes that the replacement steam generator costs were prudently incurred and applicable legal principles support their recovery in rates. Entergy Louisiana will provide further documentation and explanation requested by the LPSC staff. Cross-answering testimony is due in August 2014 and rebuttal testimony is due in September 2014. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for December 2014. Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) In January 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2013. The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 5.47%, which results in a $1.5 million rate increase. In April 2014 the LPSC Staff issued a report indicating "that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana has properly determined its earnings for the test year ended September 30, 2013." The $1.5 million rate increase was implemented effective with the first billing cycle of April 2014. Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi) In June 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed its first general rate case before the MPSC in almost 12 years. The rate filing lays out Entergy Mississippi’s plans for improving reliability, modernizing the grid, maintaining its workforce, stabilizing rates, utilizing new technologies, and attracting new industry to its service territory. Entergy Mississippi requests a net increase in revenue of $49 million for bills rendered during calendar year 2015, including $30 million resulting from new depreciation rates to update the estimated service life of assets. In addition, the filing proposes, among other things: 1) realigning cost recovery of the Attala and Hinds power plant acquisitions from the power management rider to base rates; 2) including certain MISO-related revenues and expenses in the power management rider; 3) power management rider changes that reflect the changes in costs and revenues that will accompany Entergy Mississippi’s withdrawal from participation in the System Agreement; and 4) a formula rate plan forward test year to allow for known changes in expenses and revenues for the rate effective period. Entergy Mississippi proposes maintaining the current authorized return on common equity of 10.59%. A hearing is scheduled for November 2014, and the procedural schedule calls for rates to be effective January 30, 2015. Filings with the City Council (Entergy Louisiana) In March 2013, Entergy Louisiana filed a rate case for the Algiers area, which is in New Orleans and is regulated by the City Council. Entergy Louisiana requested a rate increase of $13 million over three years, including a 10.4% return on common equity and a formula rate plan mechanism identical to its LPSC request made in February 2013. In January 2014 the City Council advisors filed direct testimony recommending a rate increase of $5.56 million over three years, including an 8.13% return on common equity. In June 2014 the City Council unanimously approved a settlement that includes the following:
• | a $9.3 million base rate revenue increase to be phased in on a levelized basis over four years;
• | recovery of an additional $853 thousand annually through a MISO recovery rider; and
• | the adoption of a four-year formula rate plan requiring the filing of annual evaluation reports in May of each year, commencing May 2015, with resulting rates being implemented in October of each year. The formula rate plan includes a midpoint target authorized return on common equity of 9.95% with a +/- 40 basis point bandwidth.
The rate increase was effective with bills rendered on and after the first billing cycle of July 2014. Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Texas) 2013 Rate Case In September 2013, Entergy Texas filed a rate case requesting a $38.6 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.4% return on common equity based on an adjusted test year ending March 31, 2013. The rate case also proposed (1) a rough production cost equalization adjustment rider recovering Entergy Texas’s payment to Entergy New Orleans to achieve rough production cost equalization based on calendar year 2012 production costs and (2) a rate case expense rider recovering the cost of the 2013 rate case and certain costs associated with previous rate cases. The rate case filing also included a request to reconcile $0.9 billion of fuel and purchased power costs and fuel revenues covering the period July 2011 through March 2013. The fuel reconciliation also reflects special circumstances fuel cost recovery of approximately $22 million of purchased power capacity costs. In January 2014 the PUCT staff filed direct testimony recommending a retail rate reduction of $0.3 million and a 9.2% return on common equity. In March 2014, Entergy Texas filed an Agreed Motion for Interim Rates. The motion explained that the parties to this proceeding have agreed that Entergy Texas should be allowed to implement new rates reflecting an $18.5 million base rate increase, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2014, as well as recovery of charges for rough production cost equalization and rate case expenses. In March 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the body assigned to hear the case, approved the motion. In April 2014, Entergy Texas filed a unanimous stipulation in this case. Among other things, the stipulation provides for an $18.5 million base rate increase, recovery over three years of the calendar year 2012 rough production cost equalization charges and rate case expenses, and states a 9.8% return on common equity. In addition, the stipulation finalizes the fuel and purchased power reconciliation covering the period July 2011 through March 2013, with the parties stipulating an immaterial fuel disallowance. No special circumstances recovery of purchased power capacity costs was allowed. In April 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case back to the PUCT for final processing. In May 2014 the PUCT approved the stipulation. No motions for rehearing were filed during the statutory rehearing period. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Business Combination Study In June 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a business combination study report with the LPSC. The report contains a preliminary analysis of the potential combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana into a single public utility. Though not a formal application, the report provides an overview of the combination and identifies its potential customer benefits. Although not part of the business combination, Entergy Louisiana provided notice to the City Council in June 2014 that it anticipates it will seek authorization to transfer to Entergy New Orleans the assets that currently support Entergy Louisiana’s customers in Algiers. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will hold technical conferences and face-to-face meetings with LPSC staff, City Council advisors, and other stakeholders to discuss potential effects of the combination, solicit suggestions and concerns, and identify areas in which additional information might be needed. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana held a technical conference at the LPSC to discuss the business combination in July 2014 and scheduled a second technical conference to be held in August 2014. System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC’s October 2011 order and Entergy’s December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order. In February 2014 the FERC issued a rehearing order addressing its October 2011 order. The FERC denied the LPSC’s request for rehearing on the issues of whether the bandwidth remedy should be made effective earlier than June 1, 2005, and whether refunds should be ordered for the 20-month refund effective period. The FERC granted the LPSC’s rehearing request on the issue of interest on the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period, requiring that interest be accrued from June 1, 2006 until the date those bandwidth payments/receipts are made. In April 2014 the LPSC filed a petition for review of the FERC’s October 2011 and February 2014 orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Also in February 2014 the FERC issued an order rejecting the December 2011 compliance filing that calculated the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. The FERC order requires a new compliance filing that calculates the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period based on monthly data for the seven individual months and that includes interest pursuant to the February 2014 rehearing order. Entergy has sought rehearing of the February 2014 orders with respect to the FERC’s determinations regarding interest. In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC an updated compliance filing that provides the payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders. The filing shows the following net payments and receipts, including interest, among the Utility operating companies:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Arkansas | $68 |
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | ($10) |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | ($11) |
Entergy New Orleans | $2 |
Entergy Texas | ($49) |
These payments were made in May 2014. The LPSC, City Council, and APSC have filed protests. 2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In August 2014 the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion dismissing the LPSC petition for review of the FERC’s order. Comprehensive Bandwidth Recalculation for 2007, 2008, and 2009 Rate Filing Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this comprehensive bandwidth recalculation. In July 2014 the FERC issued four orders in connection with various Service Schedule MSS-3 rough production cost equalization formula compliance filings and rehearing requests. Specifically, the FERC accepted Entergy Services’ revised methodologies for calculating certain cost components of the formula and affirmed its prior ruling requiring interest on the true-up amounts. The FERC directed that a comprehensive recalculation of the formula be performed for the filing years 2007 and 2008 based on calendar years 2006 and 2007 production costs. The comprehensive recalculation is due to be filed with the FERC within 45 days of the orders, or on September 15, 2014 and the bandwidth payments associated with the recalculations are expected to be made in October 2014. Management is evaluating the effect of these orders on the 2009 rate filing proceeding. 2011 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2010 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In March 2014 the Fifth Circuit rejected the LPSC’s petition for a writ of mandamus. 2014 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2013 Production Costs In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2014 rates in accordance with the FERC’s orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2014, based on calendar year 2013 production costs, commencing for service in June 2014, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC’s orders:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | $— |
Entergy New Orleans | ($15) |
Entergy Texas | $15 |
The LPSC protested the filing and the PUCT and City Council filed comments regarding the filing. Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $73.8 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $247.7 million for Entergy Louisiana. In January 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana drew $65 million and $187 million, respectively, from their funded storm reserve escrow accounts. In April 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a joint application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Following an evidentiary hearing and recommendations by the ALJ, the LPSC voted in June 2014 to approve a series of orders which (i) quantify the amount of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs prudently incurred ($66.5 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $224.3 million for Entergy Louisiana); (ii) determine the level of storm reserves to be re-established ($90 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $200 million for Entergy Louisiana); (iii) authorize Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana to utilize Louisiana Act 55 financing for Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs; and (iv) grant other requested relief associated with storm reserves and Act 55 financing of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Approvals for the Act 55 financings were obtained from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC) and the Louisiana State Bond Commission. In August 2014 the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA) issued $71 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $69 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $3 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $66 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana then immediately used the $66 million to acquire 662,426.80 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. In August 2014 the LCDA issued another $243.85 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $240 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $13 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $227 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana then immediately used the $227 million to acquire 2,272,725.89 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LCDA and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default. To service the bonds, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will collect a system restoration charge on behalf of the LURC, and remit the collections to the bond indenture trustee. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the collections as revenue because they are merely acting as the billing and collection agents for the state. Entergy New Orleans As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of Entergy New Orleans’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $47.3 million. Entergy New Orleans withdrew $17.4 million from the storm reserve escrow account to partially offset these costs. In February 2014, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council seeking certification of the Hurricane Isaac costs. In July 2014 the City Council adopted a procedural schedule that provides for hearings on the merits in September 2015.
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana [Member] |
Rate And Regulatory Matters | RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy) Regulatory Assets See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries. The following is an update to that discussion. Fuel and purchased power cost recovery Entergy Arkansas In May 2014, Entergy Arkansas filed its annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider to recover the $3 million unrecovered retail balance as of December 31, 2013 and the $68 million System Agreement bandwidth remedy payment made in May 2014 as a result of the compliance filing pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders related to the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. In June 2014 the APSC suspended the annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider and scheduled a hearing in September 2014. Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi had a deferred fuel balance of $60.4 million as of March 31, 2014. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed for an interim adjustment under its energy cost recovery rider. The interim adjustment proposed a net energy cost factor designed to collect over a six-month period the under-recovered deferred fuel balance as of March 31, 2014 and also reflects a natural gas price of $4.50 per MMBtu. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi and the Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation in which Entergy Mississippi agreed to a revised net energy cost factor that reflected the proposed interim adjustment with a reduction in costs recovered through the energy cost recovery rider associated with the suspension of the DOE nuclear waste storage fee. In June 2014 the MPSC approved the joint stipulation and allowed Entergy Mississippi’s interim adjustment. The revised net energy cost factor will remain in effect through the end of 2014. Retail Rate Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for detailed information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to that information. Filings with the LPSC Retail Rates - Electric (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement and adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $3.8 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. (Entergy Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the $10 million agreed-upon increase in formula rate plan revenue, the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement, and the adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $39 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. As discussed in the Form 10-K, the LPSC is conducting a prudence review of the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project with regard to the following aspects of the project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. In July 2014 the LPSC Staff filed testimony recommending potential project and replacement power cost disallowances of up $71 million, citing a need for further explanation or documentation from Entergy Louisiana. An intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of $141 million of incremental project costs, claiming the steam generator fabricator was imprudent. Entergy Louisiana believes that the replacement steam generator costs were prudently incurred and applicable legal principles support their recovery in rates. Entergy Louisiana will provide further documentation and explanation requested by the LPSC staff. Cross-answering testimony is due in August 2014 and rebuttal testimony is due in September 2014. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for December 2014. Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) In January 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2013. The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 5.47%, which results in a $1.5 million rate increase. In April 2014 the LPSC Staff issued a report indicating "that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana has properly determined its earnings for the test year ended September 30, 2013." The $1.5 million rate increase was implemented effective with the first billing cycle of April 2014. Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi) In June 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed its first general rate case before the MPSC in almost 12 years. The rate filing lays out Entergy Mississippi’s plans for improving reliability, modernizing the grid, maintaining its workforce, stabilizing rates, utilizing new technologies, and attracting new industry to its service territory. Entergy Mississippi requests a net increase in revenue of $49 million for bills rendered during calendar year 2015, including $30 million resulting from new depreciation rates to update the estimated service life of assets. In addition, the filing proposes, among other things: 1) realigning cost recovery of the Attala and Hinds power plant acquisitions from the power management rider to base rates; 2) including certain MISO-related revenues and expenses in the power management rider; 3) power management rider changes that reflect the changes in costs and revenues that will accompany Entergy Mississippi’s withdrawal from participation in the System Agreement; and 4) a formula rate plan forward test year to allow for known changes in expenses and revenues for the rate effective period. Entergy Mississippi proposes maintaining the current authorized return on common equity of 10.59%. A hearing is scheduled for November 2014, and the procedural schedule calls for rates to be effective January 30, 2015. Filings with the City Council (Entergy Louisiana) In March 2013, Entergy Louisiana filed a rate case for the Algiers area, which is in New Orleans and is regulated by the City Council. Entergy Louisiana requested a rate increase of $13 million over three years, including a 10.4% return on common equity and a formula rate plan mechanism identical to its LPSC request made in February 2013. In January 2014 the City Council advisors filed direct testimony recommending a rate increase of $5.56 million over three years, including an 8.13% return on common equity. In June 2014 the City Council unanimously approved a settlement that includes the following:
• | a $9.3 million base rate revenue increase to be phased in on a levelized basis over four years;
• | recovery of an additional $853 thousand annually through a MISO recovery rider; and
• | the adoption of a four-year formula rate plan requiring the filing of annual evaluation reports in May of each year, commencing May 2015, with resulting rates being implemented in October of each year. The formula rate plan includes a midpoint target authorized return on common equity of 9.95% with a +/- 40 basis point bandwidth.
The rate increase was effective with bills rendered on and after the first billing cycle of July 2014. Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Texas) 2013 Rate Case In September 2013, Entergy Texas filed a rate case requesting a $38.6 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.4% return on common equity based on an adjusted test year ending March 31, 2013. The rate case also proposed (1) a rough production cost equalization adjustment rider recovering Entergy Texas’s payment to Entergy New Orleans to achieve rough production cost equalization based on calendar year 2012 production costs and (2) a rate case expense rider recovering the cost of the 2013 rate case and certain costs associated with previous rate cases. The rate case filing also included a request to reconcile $0.9 billion of fuel and purchased power costs and fuel revenues covering the period July 2011 through March 2013. The fuel reconciliation also reflects special circumstances fuel cost recovery of approximately $22 million of purchased power capacity costs. In January 2014 the PUCT staff filed direct testimony recommending a retail rate reduction of $0.3 million and a 9.2% return on common equity. In March 2014, Entergy Texas filed an Agreed Motion for Interim Rates. The motion explained that the parties to this proceeding have agreed that Entergy Texas should be allowed to implement new rates reflecting an $18.5 million base rate increase, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2014, as well as recovery of charges for rough production cost equalization and rate case expenses. In March 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the body assigned to hear the case, approved the motion. In April 2014, Entergy Texas filed a unanimous stipulation in this case. Among other things, the stipulation provides for an $18.5 million base rate increase, recovery over three years of the calendar year 2012 rough production cost equalization charges and rate case expenses, and states a 9.8% return on common equity. In addition, the stipulation finalizes the fuel and purchased power reconciliation covering the period July 2011 through March 2013, with the parties stipulating an immaterial fuel disallowance. No special circumstances recovery of purchased power capacity costs was allowed. In April 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case back to the PUCT for final processing. In May 2014 the PUCT approved the stipulation. No motions for rehearing were filed during the statutory rehearing period. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Business Combination Study In June 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a business combination study report with the LPSC. The report contains a preliminary analysis of the potential combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana into a single public utility. Though not a formal application, the report provides an overview of the combination and identifies its potential customer benefits. Although not part of the business combination, Entergy Louisiana provided notice to the City Council in June 2014 that it anticipates it will seek authorization to transfer to Entergy New Orleans the assets that currently support Entergy Louisiana’s customers in Algiers. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will hold technical conferences and face-to-face meetings with LPSC staff, City Council advisors, and other stakeholders to discuss potential effects of the combination, solicit suggestions and concerns, and identify areas in which additional information might be needed. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana held a technical conference at the LPSC to discuss the business combination in July 2014 and scheduled a second technical conference to be held in August 2014. System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC’s October 2011 order and Entergy’s December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order. In February 2014 the FERC issued a rehearing order addressing its October 2011 order. The FERC denied the LPSC’s request for rehearing on the issues of whether the bandwidth remedy should be made effective earlier than June 1, 2005, and whether refunds should be ordered for the 20-month refund effective period. The FERC granted the LPSC’s rehearing request on the issue of interest on the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period, requiring that interest be accrued from June 1, 2006 until the date those bandwidth payments/receipts are made. In April 2014 the LPSC filed a petition for review of the FERC’s October 2011 and February 2014 orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Also in February 2014 the FERC issued an order rejecting the December 2011 compliance filing that calculated the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. The FERC order requires a new compliance filing that calculates the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period based on monthly data for the seven individual months and that includes interest pursuant to the February 2014 rehearing order. Entergy has sought rehearing of the February 2014 orders with respect to the FERC’s determinations regarding interest. In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC an updated compliance filing that provides the payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders. The filing shows the following net payments and receipts, including interest, among the Utility operating companies:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Arkansas | $68 |
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | ($10) |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | ($11) |
Entergy New Orleans | $2 |
Entergy Texas | ($49) |
These payments were made in May 2014. The LPSC, City Council, and APSC have filed protests. 2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In August 2014 the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion dismissing the LPSC petition for review of the FERC’s order. Comprehensive Bandwidth Recalculation for 2007, 2008, and 2009 Rate Filing Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this comprehensive bandwidth recalculation. In July 2014 the FERC issued four orders in connection with various Service Schedule MSS-3 rough production cost equalization formula compliance filings and rehearing requests. Specifically, the FERC accepted Entergy Services’ revised methodologies for calculating certain cost components of the formula and affirmed its prior ruling requiring interest on the true-up amounts. The FERC directed that a comprehensive recalculation of the formula be performed for the filing years 2007 and 2008 based on calendar years 2006 and 2007 production costs. The comprehensive recalculation is due to be filed with the FERC within 45 days of the orders, or on September 15, 2014 and the bandwidth payments associated with the recalculations are expected to be made in October 2014. Management is evaluating the effect of these orders on the 2009 rate filing proceeding. 2011 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2010 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In March 2014 the Fifth Circuit rejected the LPSC’s petition for a writ of mandamus. 2014 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2013 Production Costs In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2014 rates in accordance with the FERC’s orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2014, based on calendar year 2013 production costs, commencing for service in June 2014, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC’s orders:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | $— |
Entergy New Orleans | ($15) |
Entergy Texas | $15 |
The LPSC protested the filing and the PUCT and City Council filed comments regarding the filing. Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $73.8 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $247.7 million for Entergy Louisiana. In January 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana drew $65 million and $187 million, respectively, from their funded storm reserve escrow accounts. In April 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a joint application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Following an evidentiary hearing and recommendations by the ALJ, the LPSC voted in June 2014 to approve a series of orders which (i) quantify the amount of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs prudently incurred ($66.5 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $224.3 million for Entergy Louisiana); (ii) determine the level of storm reserves to be re-established ($90 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $200 million for Entergy Louisiana); (iii) authorize Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana to utilize Louisiana Act 55 financing for Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs; and (iv) grant other requested relief associated with storm reserves and Act 55 financing of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Approvals for the Act 55 financings were obtained from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC) and the Louisiana State Bond Commission. In August 2014 the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA) issued $71 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $69 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $3 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $66 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana then immediately used the $66 million to acquire 662,426.80 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. In August 2014 the LCDA issued another $243.85 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $240 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $13 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $227 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana then immediately used the $227 million to acquire 2,272,725.89 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LCDA and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default. To service the bonds, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will collect a system restoration charge on behalf of the LURC, and remit the collections to the bond indenture trustee. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the collections as revenue because they are merely acting as the billing and collection agents for the state. Entergy New Orleans As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of Entergy New Orleans’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $47.3 million. Entergy New Orleans withdrew $17.4 million from the storm reserve escrow account to partially offset these costs. In February 2014, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council seeking certification of the Hurricane Isaac costs. In July 2014 the City Council adopted a procedural schedule that provides for hearings on the merits in September 2015.
Entergy Louisiana [Member] |
Rate And Regulatory Matters | RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy) Regulatory Assets See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries. The following is an update to that discussion. Fuel and purchased power cost recovery Entergy Arkansas In May 2014, Entergy Arkansas filed its annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider to recover the $3 million unrecovered retail balance as of December 31, 2013 and the $68 million System Agreement bandwidth remedy payment made in May 2014 as a result of the compliance filing pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders related to the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. In June 2014 the APSC suspended the annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider and scheduled a hearing in September 2014. Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi had a deferred fuel balance of $60.4 million as of March 31, 2014. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed for an interim adjustment under its energy cost recovery rider. The interim adjustment proposed a net energy cost factor designed to collect over a six-month period the under-recovered deferred fuel balance as of March 31, 2014 and also reflects a natural gas price of $4.50 per MMBtu. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi and the Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation in which Entergy Mississippi agreed to a revised net energy cost factor that reflected the proposed interim adjustment with a reduction in costs recovered through the energy cost recovery rider associated with the suspension of the DOE nuclear waste storage fee. In June 2014 the MPSC approved the joint stipulation and allowed Entergy Mississippi’s interim adjustment. The revised net energy cost factor will remain in effect through the end of 2014. Retail Rate Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for detailed information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to that information. Filings with the LPSC Retail Rates - Electric (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement and adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $3.8 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. (Entergy Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the $10 million agreed-upon increase in formula rate plan revenue, the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement, and the adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $39 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. As discussed in the Form 10-K, the LPSC is conducting a prudence review of the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project with regard to the following aspects of the project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. In July 2014 the LPSC Staff filed testimony recommending potential project and replacement power cost disallowances of up $71 million, citing a need for further explanation or documentation from Entergy Louisiana. An intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of $141 million of incremental project costs, claiming the steam generator fabricator was imprudent. Entergy Louisiana believes that the replacement steam generator costs were prudently incurred and applicable legal principles support their recovery in rates. Entergy Louisiana will provide further documentation and explanation requested by the LPSC staff. Cross-answering testimony is due in August 2014 and rebuttal testimony is due in September 2014. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for December 2014. Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) In January 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2013. The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 5.47%, which results in a $1.5 million rate increase. In April 2014 the LPSC Staff issued a report indicating "that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana has properly determined its earnings for the test year ended September 30, 2013." The $1.5 million rate increase was implemented effective with the first billing cycle of April 2014. Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi) In June 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed its first general rate case before the MPSC in almost 12 years. The rate filing lays out Entergy Mississippi’s plans for improving reliability, modernizing the grid, maintaining its workforce, stabilizing rates, utilizing new technologies, and attracting new industry to its service territory. Entergy Mississippi requests a net increase in revenue of $49 million for bills rendered during calendar year 2015, including $30 million resulting from new depreciation rates to update the estimated service life of assets. In addition, the filing proposes, among other things: 1) realigning cost recovery of the Attala and Hinds power plant acquisitions from the power management rider to base rates; 2) including certain MISO-related revenues and expenses in the power management rider; 3) power management rider changes that reflect the changes in costs and revenues that will accompany Entergy Mississippi’s withdrawal from participation in the System Agreement; and 4) a formula rate plan forward test year to allow for known changes in expenses and revenues for the rate effective period. Entergy Mississippi proposes maintaining the current authorized return on common equity of 10.59%. A hearing is scheduled for November 2014, and the procedural schedule calls for rates to be effective January 30, 2015. Filings with the City Council (Entergy Louisiana) In March 2013, Entergy Louisiana filed a rate case for the Algiers area, which is in New Orleans and is regulated by the City Council. Entergy Louisiana requested a rate increase of $13 million over three years, including a 10.4% return on common equity and a formula rate plan mechanism identical to its LPSC request made in February 2013. In January 2014 the City Council advisors filed direct testimony recommending a rate increase of $5.56 million over three years, including an 8.13% return on common equity. In June 2014 the City Council unanimously approved a settlement that includes the following:
• | a $9.3 million base rate revenue increase to be phased in on a levelized basis over four years;
• | recovery of an additional $853 thousand annually through a MISO recovery rider; and
• | the adoption of a four-year formula rate plan requiring the filing of annual evaluation reports in May of each year, commencing May 2015, with resulting rates being implemented in October of each year. The formula rate plan includes a midpoint target authorized return on common equity of 9.95% with a +/- 40 basis point bandwidth.
The rate increase was effective with bills rendered on and after the first billing cycle of July 2014. Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Texas) 2013 Rate Case In September 2013, Entergy Texas filed a rate case requesting a $38.6 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.4% return on common equity based on an adjusted test year ending March 31, 2013. The rate case also proposed (1) a rough production cost equalization adjustment rider recovering Entergy Texas’s payment to Entergy New Orleans to achieve rough production cost equalization based on calendar year 2012 production costs and (2) a rate case expense rider recovering the cost of the 2013 rate case and certain costs associated with previous rate cases. The rate case filing also included a request to reconcile $0.9 billion of fuel and purchased power costs and fuel revenues covering the period July 2011 through March 2013. The fuel reconciliation also reflects special circumstances fuel cost recovery of approximately $22 million of purchased power capacity costs. In January 2014 the PUCT staff filed direct testimony recommending a retail rate reduction of $0.3 million and a 9.2% return on common equity. In March 2014, Entergy Texas filed an Agreed Motion for Interim Rates. The motion explained that the parties to this proceeding have agreed that Entergy Texas should be allowed to implement new rates reflecting an $18.5 million base rate increase, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2014, as well as recovery of charges for rough production cost equalization and rate case expenses. In March 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the body assigned to hear the case, approved the motion. In April 2014, Entergy Texas filed a unanimous stipulation in this case. Among other things, the stipulation provides for an $18.5 million base rate increase, recovery over three years of the calendar year 2012 rough production cost equalization charges and rate case expenses, and states a 9.8% return on common equity. In addition, the stipulation finalizes the fuel and purchased power reconciliation covering the period July 2011 through March 2013, with the parties stipulating an immaterial fuel disallowance. No special circumstances recovery of purchased power capacity costs was allowed. In April 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case back to the PUCT for final processing. In May 2014 the PUCT approved the stipulation. No motions for rehearing were filed during the statutory rehearing period. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Business Combination Study In June 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a business combination study report with the LPSC. The report contains a preliminary analysis of the potential combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana into a single public utility. Though not a formal application, the report provides an overview of the combination and identifies its potential customer benefits. Although not part of the business combination, Entergy Louisiana provided notice to the City Council in June 2014 that it anticipates it will seek authorization to transfer to Entergy New Orleans the assets that currently support Entergy Louisiana’s customers in Algiers. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will hold technical conferences and face-to-face meetings with LPSC staff, City Council advisors, and other stakeholders to discuss potential effects of the combination, solicit suggestions and concerns, and identify areas in which additional information might be needed. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana held a technical conference at the LPSC to discuss the business combination in July 2014 and scheduled a second technical conference to be held in August 2014. System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC’s October 2011 order and Entergy’s December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order. In February 2014 the FERC issued a rehearing order addressing its October 2011 order. The FERC denied the LPSC’s request for rehearing on the issues of whether the bandwidth remedy should be made effective earlier than June 1, 2005, and whether refunds should be ordered for the 20-month refund effective period. The FERC granted the LPSC’s rehearing request on the issue of interest on the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period, requiring that interest be accrued from June 1, 2006 until the date those bandwidth payments/receipts are made. In April 2014 the LPSC filed a petition for review of the FERC’s October 2011 and February 2014 orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Also in February 2014 the FERC issued an order rejecting the December 2011 compliance filing that calculated the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. The FERC order requires a new compliance filing that calculates the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period based on monthly data for the seven individual months and that includes interest pursuant to the February 2014 rehearing order. Entergy has sought rehearing of the February 2014 orders with respect to the FERC’s determinations regarding interest. In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC an updated compliance filing that provides the payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders. The filing shows the following net payments and receipts, including interest, among the Utility operating companies:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Arkansas | $68 |
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | ($10) |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | ($11) |
Entergy New Orleans | $2 |
Entergy Texas | ($49) |
These payments were made in May 2014. The LPSC, City Council, and APSC have filed protests. 2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In August 2014 the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion dismissing the LPSC petition for review of the FERC’s order. Comprehensive Bandwidth Recalculation for 2007, 2008, and 2009 Rate Filing Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this comprehensive bandwidth recalculation. In July 2014 the FERC issued four orders in connection with various Service Schedule MSS-3 rough production cost equalization formula compliance filings and rehearing requests. Specifically, the FERC accepted Entergy Services’ revised methodologies for calculating certain cost components of the formula and affirmed its prior ruling requiring interest on the true-up amounts. The FERC directed that a comprehensive recalculation of the formula be performed for the filing years 2007 and 2008 based on calendar years 2006 and 2007 production costs. The comprehensive recalculation is due to be filed with the FERC within 45 days of the orders, or on September 15, 2014 and the bandwidth payments associated with the recalculations are expected to be made in October 2014. Management is evaluating the effect of these orders on the 2009 rate filing proceeding. 2011 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2010 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In March 2014 the Fifth Circuit rejected the LPSC’s petition for a writ of mandamus. 2014 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2013 Production Costs In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2014 rates in accordance with the FERC’s orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2014, based on calendar year 2013 production costs, commencing for service in June 2014, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC’s orders:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | $— |
Entergy New Orleans | ($15) |
Entergy Texas | $15 |
The LPSC protested the filing and the PUCT and City Council filed comments regarding the filing. Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $73.8 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $247.7 million for Entergy Louisiana. In January 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana drew $65 million and $187 million, respectively, from their funded storm reserve escrow accounts. In April 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a joint application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Following an evidentiary hearing and recommendations by the ALJ, the LPSC voted in June 2014 to approve a series of orders which (i) quantify the amount of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs prudently incurred ($66.5 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $224.3 million for Entergy Louisiana); (ii) determine the level of storm reserves to be re-established ($90 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $200 million for Entergy Louisiana); (iii) authorize Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana to utilize Louisiana Act 55 financing for Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs; and (iv) grant other requested relief associated with storm reserves and Act 55 financing of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Approvals for the Act 55 financings were obtained from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC) and the Louisiana State Bond Commission. In August 2014 the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA) issued $71 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $69 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $3 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $66 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana then immediately used the $66 million to acquire 662,426.80 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. In August 2014 the LCDA issued another $243.85 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $240 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $13 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $227 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana then immediately used the $227 million to acquire 2,272,725.89 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LCDA and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default. To service the bonds, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will collect a system restoration charge on behalf of the LURC, and remit the collections to the bond indenture trustee. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the collections as revenue because they are merely acting as the billing and collection agents for the state. Entergy New Orleans As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of Entergy New Orleans’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $47.3 million. Entergy New Orleans withdrew $17.4 million from the storm reserve escrow account to partially offset these costs. In February 2014, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council seeking certification of the Hurricane Isaac costs. In July 2014 the City Council adopted a procedural schedule that provides for hearings on the merits in September 2015.
Entergy Mississippi [Member] |
Rate And Regulatory Matters | RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy) Regulatory Assets See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries. The following is an update to that discussion. Fuel and purchased power cost recovery Entergy Arkansas In May 2014, Entergy Arkansas filed its annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider to recover the $3 million unrecovered retail balance as of December 31, 2013 and the $68 million System Agreement bandwidth remedy payment made in May 2014 as a result of the compliance filing pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders related to the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. In June 2014 the APSC suspended the annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider and scheduled a hearing in September 2014. Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi had a deferred fuel balance of $60.4 million as of March 31, 2014. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed for an interim adjustment under its energy cost recovery rider. The interim adjustment proposed a net energy cost factor designed to collect over a six-month period the under-recovered deferred fuel balance as of March 31, 2014 and also reflects a natural gas price of $4.50 per MMBtu. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi and the Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation in which Entergy Mississippi agreed to a revised net energy cost factor that reflected the proposed interim adjustment with a reduction in costs recovered through the energy cost recovery rider associated with the suspension of the DOE nuclear waste storage fee. In June 2014 the MPSC approved the joint stipulation and allowed Entergy Mississippi’s interim adjustment. The revised net energy cost factor will remain in effect through the end of 2014. Retail Rate Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for detailed information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to that information. Filings with the LPSC Retail Rates - Electric (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement and adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $3.8 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. (Entergy Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the $10 million agreed-upon increase in formula rate plan revenue, the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement, and the adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $39 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. As discussed in the Form 10-K, the LPSC is conducting a prudence review of the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project with regard to the following aspects of the project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. In July 2014 the LPSC Staff filed testimony recommending potential project and replacement power cost disallowances of up $71 million, citing a need for further explanation or documentation from Entergy Louisiana. An intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of $141 million of incremental project costs, claiming the steam generator fabricator was imprudent. Entergy Louisiana believes that the replacement steam generator costs were prudently incurred and applicable legal principles support their recovery in rates. Entergy Louisiana will provide further documentation and explanation requested by the LPSC staff. Cross-answering testimony is due in August 2014 and rebuttal testimony is due in September 2014. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for December 2014. Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) In January 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2013. The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 5.47%, which results in a $1.5 million rate increase. In April 2014 the LPSC Staff issued a report indicating "that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana has properly determined its earnings for the test year ended September 30, 2013." The $1.5 million rate increase was implemented effective with the first billing cycle of April 2014. Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi) In June 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed its first general rate case before the MPSC in almost 12 years. The rate filing lays out Entergy Mississippi’s plans for improving reliability, modernizing the grid, maintaining its workforce, stabilizing rates, utilizing new technologies, and attracting new industry to its service territory. Entergy Mississippi requests a net increase in revenue of $49 million for bills rendered during calendar year 2015, including $30 million resulting from new depreciation rates to update the estimated service life of assets. In addition, the filing proposes, among other things: 1) realigning cost recovery of the Attala and Hinds power plant acquisitions from the power management rider to base rates; 2) including certain MISO-related revenues and expenses in the power management rider; 3) power management rider changes that reflect the changes in costs and revenues that will accompany Entergy Mississippi’s withdrawal from participation in the System Agreement; and 4) a formula rate plan forward test year to allow for known changes in expenses and revenues for the rate effective period. Entergy Mississippi proposes maintaining the current authorized return on common equity of 10.59%. A hearing is scheduled for November 2014, and the procedural schedule calls for rates to be effective January 30, 2015. Filings with the City Council (Entergy Louisiana) In March 2013, Entergy Louisiana filed a rate case for the Algiers area, which is in New Orleans and is regulated by the City Council. Entergy Louisiana requested a rate increase of $13 million over three years, including a 10.4% return on common equity and a formula rate plan mechanism identical to its LPSC request made in February 2013. In January 2014 the City Council advisors filed direct testimony recommending a rate increase of $5.56 million over three years, including an 8.13% return on common equity. In June 2014 the City Council unanimously approved a settlement that includes the following:
• | a $9.3 million base rate revenue increase to be phased in on a levelized basis over four years;
• | recovery of an additional $853 thousand annually through a MISO recovery rider; and
• | the adoption of a four-year formula rate plan requiring the filing of annual evaluation reports in May of each year, commencing May 2015, with resulting rates being implemented in October of each year. The formula rate plan includes a midpoint target authorized return on common equity of 9.95% with a +/- 40 basis point bandwidth.
The rate increase was effective with bills rendered on and after the first billing cycle of July 2014. Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Texas) 2013 Rate Case In September 2013, Entergy Texas filed a rate case requesting a $38.6 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.4% return on common equity based on an adjusted test year ending March 31, 2013. The rate case also proposed (1) a rough production cost equalization adjustment rider recovering Entergy Texas’s payment to Entergy New Orleans to achieve rough production cost equalization based on calendar year 2012 production costs and (2) a rate case expense rider recovering the cost of the 2013 rate case and certain costs associated with previous rate cases. The rate case filing also included a request to reconcile $0.9 billion of fuel and purchased power costs and fuel revenues covering the period July 2011 through March 2013. The fuel reconciliation also reflects special circumstances fuel cost recovery of approximately $22 million of purchased power capacity costs. In January 2014 the PUCT staff filed direct testimony recommending a retail rate reduction of $0.3 million and a 9.2% return on common equity. In March 2014, Entergy Texas filed an Agreed Motion for Interim Rates. The motion explained that the parties to this proceeding have agreed that Entergy Texas should be allowed to implement new rates reflecting an $18.5 million base rate increase, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2014, as well as recovery of charges for rough production cost equalization and rate case expenses. In March 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the body assigned to hear the case, approved the motion. In April 2014, Entergy Texas filed a unanimous stipulation in this case. Among other things, the stipulation provides for an $18.5 million base rate increase, recovery over three years of the calendar year 2012 rough production cost equalization charges and rate case expenses, and states a 9.8% return on common equity. In addition, the stipulation finalizes the fuel and purchased power reconciliation covering the period July 2011 through March 2013, with the parties stipulating an immaterial fuel disallowance. No special circumstances recovery of purchased power capacity costs was allowed. In April 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case back to the PUCT for final processing. In May 2014 the PUCT approved the stipulation. No motions for rehearing were filed during the statutory rehearing period. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Business Combination Study In June 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a business combination study report with the LPSC. The report contains a preliminary analysis of the potential combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana into a single public utility. Though not a formal application, the report provides an overview of the combination and identifies its potential customer benefits. Although not part of the business combination, Entergy Louisiana provided notice to the City Council in June 2014 that it anticipates it will seek authorization to transfer to Entergy New Orleans the assets that currently support Entergy Louisiana’s customers in Algiers. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will hold technical conferences and face-to-face meetings with LPSC staff, City Council advisors, and other stakeholders to discuss potential effects of the combination, solicit suggestions and concerns, and identify areas in which additional information might be needed. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana held a technical conference at the LPSC to discuss the business combination in July 2014 and scheduled a second technical conference to be held in August 2014. System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC’s October 2011 order and Entergy’s December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order. In February 2014 the FERC issued a rehearing order addressing its October 2011 order. The FERC denied the LPSC’s request for rehearing on the issues of whether the bandwidth remedy should be made effective earlier than June 1, 2005, and whether refunds should be ordered for the 20-month refund effective period. The FERC granted the LPSC’s rehearing request on the issue of interest on the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period, requiring that interest be accrued from June 1, 2006 until the date those bandwidth payments/receipts are made. In April 2014 the LPSC filed a petition for review of the FERC’s October 2011 and February 2014 orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Also in February 2014 the FERC issued an order rejecting the December 2011 compliance filing that calculated the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. The FERC order requires a new compliance filing that calculates the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period based on monthly data for the seven individual months and that includes interest pursuant to the February 2014 rehearing order. Entergy has sought rehearing of the February 2014 orders with respect to the FERC’s determinations regarding interest. In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC an updated compliance filing that provides the payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders. The filing shows the following net payments and receipts, including interest, among the Utility operating companies:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Arkansas | $68 |
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | ($10) |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | ($11) |
Entergy New Orleans | $2 |
Entergy Texas | ($49) |
These payments were made in May 2014. The LPSC, City Council, and APSC have filed protests. 2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In August 2014 the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion dismissing the LPSC petition for review of the FERC’s order. Comprehensive Bandwidth Recalculation for 2007, 2008, and 2009 Rate Filing Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this comprehensive bandwidth recalculation. In July 2014 the FERC issued four orders in connection with various Service Schedule MSS-3 rough production cost equalization formula compliance filings and rehearing requests. Specifically, the FERC accepted Entergy Services’ revised methodologies for calculating certain cost components of the formula and affirmed its prior ruling requiring interest on the true-up amounts. The FERC directed that a comprehensive recalculation of the formula be performed for the filing years 2007 and 2008 based on calendar years 2006 and 2007 production costs. The comprehensive recalculation is due to be filed with the FERC within 45 days of the orders, or on September 15, 2014 and the bandwidth payments associated with the recalculations are expected to be made in October 2014. Management is evaluating the effect of these orders on the 2009 rate filing proceeding. 2011 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2010 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In March 2014 the Fifth Circuit rejected the LPSC’s petition for a writ of mandamus. 2014 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2013 Production Costs In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2014 rates in accordance with the FERC’s orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2014, based on calendar year 2013 production costs, commencing for service in June 2014, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC’s orders:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | $— |
Entergy New Orleans | ($15) |
Entergy Texas | $15 |
The LPSC protested the filing and the PUCT and City Council filed comments regarding the filing. Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $73.8 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $247.7 million for Entergy Louisiana. In January 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana drew $65 million and $187 million, respectively, from their funded storm reserve escrow accounts. In April 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a joint application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Following an evidentiary hearing and recommendations by the ALJ, the LPSC voted in June 2014 to approve a series of orders which (i) quantify the amount of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs prudently incurred ($66.5 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $224.3 million for Entergy Louisiana); (ii) determine the level of storm reserves to be re-established ($90 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $200 million for Entergy Louisiana); (iii) authorize Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana to utilize Louisiana Act 55 financing for Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs; and (iv) grant other requested relief associated with storm reserves and Act 55 financing of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Approvals for the Act 55 financings were obtained from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC) and the Louisiana State Bond Commission. In August 2014 the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA) issued $71 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $69 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $3 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $66 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana then immediately used the $66 million to acquire 662,426.80 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. In August 2014 the LCDA issued another $243.85 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $240 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $13 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $227 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana then immediately used the $227 million to acquire 2,272,725.89 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LCDA and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default. To service the bonds, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will collect a system restoration charge on behalf of the LURC, and remit the collections to the bond indenture trustee. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the collections as revenue because they are merely acting as the billing and collection agents for the state. Entergy New Orleans As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of Entergy New Orleans’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $47.3 million. Entergy New Orleans withdrew $17.4 million from the storm reserve escrow account to partially offset these costs. In February 2014, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council seeking certification of the Hurricane Isaac costs. In July 2014 the City Council adopted a procedural schedule that provides for hearings on the merits in September 2015.
Entergy New Orleans [Member] |
Rate And Regulatory Matters | RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy) Regulatory Assets See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries. The following is an update to that discussion. Fuel and purchased power cost recovery Entergy Arkansas In May 2014, Entergy Arkansas filed its annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider to recover the $3 million unrecovered retail balance as of December 31, 2013 and the $68 million System Agreement bandwidth remedy payment made in May 2014 as a result of the compliance filing pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders related to the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. In June 2014 the APSC suspended the annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider and scheduled a hearing in September 2014. Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi had a deferred fuel balance of $60.4 million as of March 31, 2014. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed for an interim adjustment under its energy cost recovery rider. The interim adjustment proposed a net energy cost factor designed to collect over a six-month period the under-recovered deferred fuel balance as of March 31, 2014 and also reflects a natural gas price of $4.50 per MMBtu. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi and the Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation in which Entergy Mississippi agreed to a revised net energy cost factor that reflected the proposed interim adjustment with a reduction in costs recovered through the energy cost recovery rider associated with the suspension of the DOE nuclear waste storage fee. In June 2014 the MPSC approved the joint stipulation and allowed Entergy Mississippi’s interim adjustment. The revised net energy cost factor will remain in effect through the end of 2014. Retail Rate Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for detailed information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to that information. Filings with the LPSC Retail Rates - Electric (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement and adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $3.8 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. (Entergy Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the $10 million agreed-upon increase in formula rate plan revenue, the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement, and the adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $39 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. As discussed in the Form 10-K, the LPSC is conducting a prudence review of the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project with regard to the following aspects of the project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. In July 2014 the LPSC Staff filed testimony recommending potential project and replacement power cost disallowances of up $71 million, citing a need for further explanation or documentation from Entergy Louisiana. An intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of $141 million of incremental project costs, claiming the steam generator fabricator was imprudent. Entergy Louisiana believes that the replacement steam generator costs were prudently incurred and applicable legal principles support their recovery in rates. Entergy Louisiana will provide further documentation and explanation requested by the LPSC staff. Cross-answering testimony is due in August 2014 and rebuttal testimony is due in September 2014. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for December 2014. Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) In January 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2013. The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 5.47%, which results in a $1.5 million rate increase. In April 2014 the LPSC Staff issued a report indicating "that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana has properly determined its earnings for the test year ended September 30, 2013." The $1.5 million rate increase was implemented effective with the first billing cycle of April 2014. Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi) In June 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed its first general rate case before the MPSC in almost 12 years. The rate filing lays out Entergy Mississippi’s plans for improving reliability, modernizing the grid, maintaining its workforce, stabilizing rates, utilizing new technologies, and attracting new industry to its service territory. Entergy Mississippi requests a net increase in revenue of $49 million for bills rendered during calendar year 2015, including $30 million resulting from new depreciation rates to update the estimated service life of assets. In addition, the filing proposes, among other things: 1) realigning cost recovery of the Attala and Hinds power plant acquisitions from the power management rider to base rates; 2) including certain MISO-related revenues and expenses in the power management rider; 3) power management rider changes that reflect the changes in costs and revenues that will accompany Entergy Mississippi’s withdrawal from participation in the System Agreement; and 4) a formula rate plan forward test year to allow for known changes in expenses and revenues for the rate effective period. Entergy Mississippi proposes maintaining the current authorized return on common equity of 10.59%. A hearing is scheduled for November 2014, and the procedural schedule calls for rates to be effective January 30, 2015. Filings with the City Council (Entergy Louisiana) In March 2013, Entergy Louisiana filed a rate case for the Algiers area, which is in New Orleans and is regulated by the City Council. Entergy Louisiana requested a rate increase of $13 million over three years, including a 10.4% return on common equity and a formula rate plan mechanism identical to its LPSC request made in February 2013. In January 2014 the City Council advisors filed direct testimony recommending a rate increase of $5.56 million over three years, including an 8.13% return on common equity. In June 2014 the City Council unanimously approved a settlement that includes the following:
• | a $9.3 million base rate revenue increase to be phased in on a levelized basis over four years;
• | recovery of an additional $853 thousand annually through a MISO recovery rider; and
• | the adoption of a four-year formula rate plan requiring the filing of annual evaluation reports in May of each year, commencing May 2015, with resulting rates being implemented in October of each year. The formula rate plan includes a midpoint target authorized return on common equity of 9.95% with a +/- 40 basis point bandwidth.
The rate increase was effective with bills rendered on and after the first billing cycle of July 2014. Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Texas) 2013 Rate Case In September 2013, Entergy Texas filed a rate case requesting a $38.6 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.4% return on common equity based on an adjusted test year ending March 31, 2013. The rate case also proposed (1) a rough production cost equalization adjustment rider recovering Entergy Texas’s payment to Entergy New Orleans to achieve rough production cost equalization based on calendar year 2012 production costs and (2) a rate case expense rider recovering the cost of the 2013 rate case and certain costs associated with previous rate cases. The rate case filing also included a request to reconcile $0.9 billion of fuel and purchased power costs and fuel revenues covering the period July 2011 through March 2013. The fuel reconciliation also reflects special circumstances fuel cost recovery of approximately $22 million of purchased power capacity costs. In January 2014 the PUCT staff filed direct testimony recommending a retail rate reduction of $0.3 million and a 9.2% return on common equity. In March 2014, Entergy Texas filed an Agreed Motion for Interim Rates. The motion explained that the parties to this proceeding have agreed that Entergy Texas should be allowed to implement new rates reflecting an $18.5 million base rate increase, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2014, as well as recovery of charges for rough production cost equalization and rate case expenses. In March 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the body assigned to hear the case, approved the motion. In April 2014, Entergy Texas filed a unanimous stipulation in this case. Among other things, the stipulation provides for an $18.5 million base rate increase, recovery over three years of the calendar year 2012 rough production cost equalization charges and rate case expenses, and states a 9.8% return on common equity. In addition, the stipulation finalizes the fuel and purchased power reconciliation covering the period July 2011 through March 2013, with the parties stipulating an immaterial fuel disallowance. No special circumstances recovery of purchased power capacity costs was allowed. In April 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case back to the PUCT for final processing. In May 2014 the PUCT approved the stipulation. No motions for rehearing were filed during the statutory rehearing period. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Business Combination Study In June 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a business combination study report with the LPSC. The report contains a preliminary analysis of the potential combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana into a single public utility. Though not a formal application, the report provides an overview of the combination and identifies its potential customer benefits. Although not part of the business combination, Entergy Louisiana provided notice to the City Council in June 2014 that it anticipates it will seek authorization to transfer to Entergy New Orleans the assets that currently support Entergy Louisiana’s customers in Algiers. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will hold technical conferences and face-to-face meetings with LPSC staff, City Council advisors, and other stakeholders to discuss potential effects of the combination, solicit suggestions and concerns, and identify areas in which additional information might be needed. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana held a technical conference at the LPSC to discuss the business combination in July 2014 and scheduled a second technical conference to be held in August 2014. System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC’s October 2011 order and Entergy’s December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order. In February 2014 the FERC issued a rehearing order addressing its October 2011 order. The FERC denied the LPSC’s request for rehearing on the issues of whether the bandwidth remedy should be made effective earlier than June 1, 2005, and whether refunds should be ordered for the 20-month refund effective period. The FERC granted the LPSC’s rehearing request on the issue of interest on the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period, requiring that interest be accrued from June 1, 2006 until the date those bandwidth payments/receipts are made. In April 2014 the LPSC filed a petition for review of the FERC’s October 2011 and February 2014 orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Also in February 2014 the FERC issued an order rejecting the December 2011 compliance filing that calculated the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. The FERC order requires a new compliance filing that calculates the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period based on monthly data for the seven individual months and that includes interest pursuant to the February 2014 rehearing order. Entergy has sought rehearing of the February 2014 orders with respect to the FERC’s determinations regarding interest. In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC an updated compliance filing that provides the payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders. The filing shows the following net payments and receipts, including interest, among the Utility operating companies:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Arkansas | $68 |
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | ($10) |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | ($11) |
Entergy New Orleans | $2 |
Entergy Texas | ($49) |
These payments were made in May 2014. The LPSC, City Council, and APSC have filed protests. 2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In August 2014 the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion dismissing the LPSC petition for review of the FERC’s order. Comprehensive Bandwidth Recalculation for 2007, 2008, and 2009 Rate Filing Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this comprehensive bandwidth recalculation. In July 2014 the FERC issued four orders in connection with various Service Schedule MSS-3 rough production cost equalization formula compliance filings and rehearing requests. Specifically, the FERC accepted Entergy Services’ revised methodologies for calculating certain cost components of the formula and affirmed its prior ruling requiring interest on the true-up amounts. The FERC directed that a comprehensive recalculation of the formula be performed for the filing years 2007 and 2008 based on calendar years 2006 and 2007 production costs. The comprehensive recalculation is due to be filed with the FERC within 45 days of the orders, or on September 15, 2014 and the bandwidth payments associated with the recalculations are expected to be made in October 2014. Management is evaluating the effect of these orders on the 2009 rate filing proceeding. 2011 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2010 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In March 2014 the Fifth Circuit rejected the LPSC’s petition for a writ of mandamus. 2014 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2013 Production Costs In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2014 rates in accordance with the FERC’s orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2014, based on calendar year 2013 production costs, commencing for service in June 2014, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC’s orders:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | $— |
Entergy New Orleans | ($15) |
Entergy Texas | $15 |
The LPSC protested the filing and the PUCT and City Council filed comments regarding the filing. Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $73.8 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $247.7 million for Entergy Louisiana. In January 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana drew $65 million and $187 million, respectively, from their funded storm reserve escrow accounts. In April 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a joint application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Following an evidentiary hearing and recommendations by the ALJ, the LPSC voted in June 2014 to approve a series of orders which (i) quantify the amount of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs prudently incurred ($66.5 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $224.3 million for Entergy Louisiana); (ii) determine the level of storm reserves to be re-established ($90 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $200 million for Entergy Louisiana); (iii) authorize Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana to utilize Louisiana Act 55 financing for Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs; and (iv) grant other requested relief associated with storm reserves and Act 55 financing of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Approvals for the Act 55 financings were obtained from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC) and the Louisiana State Bond Commission. In August 2014 the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA) issued $71 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $69 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $3 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $66 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana then immediately used the $66 million to acquire 662,426.80 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. In August 2014 the LCDA issued another $243.85 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $240 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $13 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $227 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana then immediately used the $227 million to acquire 2,272,725.89 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LCDA and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default. To service the bonds, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will collect a system restoration charge on behalf of the LURC, and remit the collections to the bond indenture trustee. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the collections as revenue because they are merely acting as the billing and collection agents for the state. Entergy New Orleans As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of Entergy New Orleans’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $47.3 million. Entergy New Orleans withdrew $17.4 million from the storm reserve escrow account to partially offset these costs. In February 2014, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council seeking certification of the Hurricane Isaac costs. In July 2014 the City Council adopted a procedural schedule that provides for hearings on the merits in September 2015.
Entergy Texas [Member] |
Rate And Regulatory Matters | RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy) Regulatory Assets See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries. The following is an update to that discussion. Fuel and purchased power cost recovery Entergy Arkansas In May 2014, Entergy Arkansas filed its annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider to recover the $3 million unrecovered retail balance as of December 31, 2013 and the $68 million System Agreement bandwidth remedy payment made in May 2014 as a result of the compliance filing pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders related to the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. In June 2014 the APSC suspended the annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider and scheduled a hearing in September 2014. Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi had a deferred fuel balance of $60.4 million as of March 31, 2014. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed for an interim adjustment under its energy cost recovery rider. The interim adjustment proposed a net energy cost factor designed to collect over a six-month period the under-recovered deferred fuel balance as of March 31, 2014 and also reflects a natural gas price of $4.50 per MMBtu. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi and the Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation in which Entergy Mississippi agreed to a revised net energy cost factor that reflected the proposed interim adjustment with a reduction in costs recovered through the energy cost recovery rider associated with the suspension of the DOE nuclear waste storage fee. In June 2014 the MPSC approved the joint stipulation and allowed Entergy Mississippi’s interim adjustment. The revised net energy cost factor will remain in effect through the end of 2014. Retail Rate Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for detailed information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to that information. Filings with the LPSC Retail Rates - Electric (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement and adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $3.8 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. (Entergy Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the $10 million agreed-upon increase in formula rate plan revenue, the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement, and the adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $39 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. As discussed in the Form 10-K, the LPSC is conducting a prudence review of the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project with regard to the following aspects of the project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. In July 2014 the LPSC Staff filed testimony recommending potential project and replacement power cost disallowances of up $71 million, citing a need for further explanation or documentation from Entergy Louisiana. An intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of $141 million of incremental project costs, claiming the steam generator fabricator was imprudent. Entergy Louisiana believes that the replacement steam generator costs were prudently incurred and applicable legal principles support their recovery in rates. Entergy Louisiana will provide further documentation and explanation requested by the LPSC staff. Cross-answering testimony is due in August 2014 and rebuttal testimony is due in September 2014. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for December 2014. Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) In January 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2013. The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 5.47%, which results in a $1.5 million rate increase. In April 2014 the LPSC Staff issued a report indicating "that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana has properly determined its earnings for the test year ended September 30, 2013." The $1.5 million rate increase was implemented effective with the first billing cycle of April 2014. Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi) In June 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed its first general rate case before the MPSC in almost 12 years. The rate filing lays out Entergy Mississippi’s plans for improving reliability, modernizing the grid, maintaining its workforce, stabilizing rates, utilizing new technologies, and attracting new industry to its service territory. Entergy Mississippi requests a net increase in revenue of $49 million for bills rendered during calendar year 2015, including $30 million resulting from new depreciation rates to update the estimated service life of assets. In addition, the filing proposes, among other things: 1) realigning cost recovery of the Attala and Hinds power plant acquisitions from the power management rider to base rates; 2) including certain MISO-related revenues and expenses in the power management rider; 3) power management rider changes that reflect the changes in costs and revenues that will accompany Entergy Mississippi’s withdrawal from participation in the System Agreement; and 4) a formula rate plan forward test year to allow for known changes in expenses and revenues for the rate effective period. Entergy Mississippi proposes maintaining the current authorized return on common equity of 10.59%. A hearing is scheduled for November 2014, and the procedural schedule calls for rates to be effective January 30, 2015. Filings with the City Council (Entergy Louisiana) In March 2013, Entergy Louisiana filed a rate case for the Algiers area, which is in New Orleans and is regulated by the City Council. Entergy Louisiana requested a rate increase of $13 million over three years, including a 10.4% return on common equity and a formula rate plan mechanism identical to its LPSC request made in February 2013. In January 2014 the City Council advisors filed direct testimony recommending a rate increase of $5.56 million over three years, including an 8.13% return on common equity. In June 2014 the City Council unanimously approved a settlement that includes the following:
• | a $9.3 million base rate revenue increase to be phased in on a levelized basis over four years;
• | recovery of an additional $853 thousand annually through a MISO recovery rider; and
• | the adoption of a four-year formula rate plan requiring the filing of annual evaluation reports in May of each year, commencing May 2015, with resulting rates being implemented in October of each year. The formula rate plan includes a midpoint target authorized return on common equity of 9.95% with a +/- 40 basis point bandwidth.
The rate increase was effective with bills rendered on and after the first billing cycle of July 2014. Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Texas) 2013 Rate Case In September 2013, Entergy Texas filed a rate case requesting a $38.6 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.4% return on common equity based on an adjusted test year ending March 31, 2013. The rate case also proposed (1) a rough production cost equalization adjustment rider recovering Entergy Texas’s payment to Entergy New Orleans to achieve rough production cost equalization based on calendar year 2012 production costs and (2) a rate case expense rider recovering the cost of the 2013 rate case and certain costs associated with previous rate cases. The rate case filing also included a request to reconcile $0.9 billion of fuel and purchased power costs and fuel revenues covering the period July 2011 through March 2013. The fuel reconciliation also reflects special circumstances fuel cost recovery of approximately $22 million of purchased power capacity costs. In January 2014 the PUCT staff filed direct testimony recommending a retail rate reduction of $0.3 million and a 9.2% return on common equity. In March 2014, Entergy Texas filed an Agreed Motion for Interim Rates. The motion explained that the parties to this proceeding have agreed that Entergy Texas should be allowed to implement new rates reflecting an $18.5 million base rate increase, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2014, as well as recovery of charges for rough production cost equalization and rate case expenses. In March 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the body assigned to hear the case, approved the motion. In April 2014, Entergy Texas filed a unanimous stipulation in this case. Among other things, the stipulation provides for an $18.5 million base rate increase, recovery over three years of the calendar year 2012 rough production cost equalization charges and rate case expenses, and states a 9.8% return on common equity. In addition, the stipulation finalizes the fuel and purchased power reconciliation covering the period July 2011 through March 2013, with the parties stipulating an immaterial fuel disallowance. No special circumstances recovery of purchased power capacity costs was allowed. In April 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case back to the PUCT for final processing. In May 2014 the PUCT approved the stipulation. No motions for rehearing were filed during the statutory rehearing period. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Business Combination Study In June 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a business combination study report with the LPSC. The report contains a preliminary analysis of the potential combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana into a single public utility. Though not a formal application, the report provides an overview of the combination and identifies its potential customer benefits. Although not part of the business combination, Entergy Louisiana provided notice to the City Council in June 2014 that it anticipates it will seek authorization to transfer to Entergy New Orleans the assets that currently support Entergy Louisiana’s customers in Algiers. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will hold technical conferences and face-to-face meetings with LPSC staff, City Council advisors, and other stakeholders to discuss potential effects of the combination, solicit suggestions and concerns, and identify areas in which additional information might be needed. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana held a technical conference at the LPSC to discuss the business combination in July 2014 and scheduled a second technical conference to be held in August 2014. System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC’s October 2011 order and Entergy’s December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order. In February 2014 the FERC issued a rehearing order addressing its October 2011 order. The FERC denied the LPSC’s request for rehearing on the issues of whether the bandwidth remedy should be made effective earlier than June 1, 2005, and whether refunds should be ordered for the 20-month refund effective period. The FERC granted the LPSC’s rehearing request on the issue of interest on the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period, requiring that interest be accrued from June 1, 2006 until the date those bandwidth payments/receipts are made. In April 2014 the LPSC filed a petition for review of the FERC’s October 2011 and February 2014 orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Also in February 2014 the FERC issued an order rejecting the December 2011 compliance filing that calculated the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. The FERC order requires a new compliance filing that calculates the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period based on monthly data for the seven individual months and that includes interest pursuant to the February 2014 rehearing order. Entergy has sought rehearing of the February 2014 orders with respect to the FERC’s determinations regarding interest. In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC an updated compliance filing that provides the payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders. The filing shows the following net payments and receipts, including interest, among the Utility operating companies:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Arkansas | $68 |
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | ($10) |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | ($11) |
Entergy New Orleans | $2 |
Entergy Texas | ($49) |
These payments were made in May 2014. The LPSC, City Council, and APSC have filed protests. 2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In August 2014 the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion dismissing the LPSC petition for review of the FERC’s order. Comprehensive Bandwidth Recalculation for 2007, 2008, and 2009 Rate Filing Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this comprehensive bandwidth recalculation. In July 2014 the FERC issued four orders in connection with various Service Schedule MSS-3 rough production cost equalization formula compliance filings and rehearing requests. Specifically, the FERC accepted Entergy Services’ revised methodologies for calculating certain cost components of the formula and affirmed its prior ruling requiring interest on the true-up amounts. The FERC directed that a comprehensive recalculation of the formula be performed for the filing years 2007 and 2008 based on calendar years 2006 and 2007 production costs. The comprehensive recalculation is due to be filed with the FERC within 45 days of the orders, or on September 15, 2014 and the bandwidth payments associated with the recalculations are expected to be made in October 2014. Management is evaluating the effect of these orders on the 2009 rate filing proceeding. 2011 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2010 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In March 2014 the Fifth Circuit rejected the LPSC’s petition for a writ of mandamus. 2014 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2013 Production Costs In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2014 rates in accordance with the FERC’s orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2014, based on calendar year 2013 production costs, commencing for service in June 2014, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC’s orders:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | $— |
Entergy New Orleans | ($15) |
Entergy Texas | $15 |
The LPSC protested the filing and the PUCT and City Council filed comments regarding the filing. Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $73.8 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $247.7 million for Entergy Louisiana. In January 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana drew $65 million and $187 million, respectively, from their funded storm reserve escrow accounts. In April 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a joint application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Following an evidentiary hearing and recommendations by the ALJ, the LPSC voted in June 2014 to approve a series of orders which (i) quantify the amount of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs prudently incurred ($66.5 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $224.3 million for Entergy Louisiana); (ii) determine the level of storm reserves to be re-established ($90 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $200 million for Entergy Louisiana); (iii) authorize Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana to utilize Louisiana Act 55 financing for Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs; and (iv) grant other requested relief associated with storm reserves and Act 55 financing of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Approvals for the Act 55 financings were obtained from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC) and the Louisiana State Bond Commission. In August 2014 the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA) issued $71 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $69 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $3 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $66 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana then immediately used the $66 million to acquire 662,426.80 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. In August 2014 the LCDA issued another $243.85 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $240 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $13 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $227 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana then immediately used the $227 million to acquire 2,272,725.89 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LCDA and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default. To service the bonds, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will collect a system restoration charge on behalf of the LURC, and remit the collections to the bond indenture trustee. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the collections as revenue because they are merely acting as the billing and collection agents for the state. Entergy New Orleans As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of Entergy New Orleans’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $47.3 million. Entergy New Orleans withdrew $17.4 million from the storm reserve escrow account to partially offset these costs. In February 2014, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council seeking certification of the Hurricane Isaac costs. In July 2014 the City Council adopted a procedural schedule that provides for hearings on the merits in September 2015.
System Energy [Member] |
Rate And Regulatory Matters | RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS (Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy) Regulatory Assets See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for information regarding regulatory assets in the Utility business presented on the balance sheets of Entergy and the Registrant Subsidiaries. The following is an update to that discussion. Fuel and purchased power cost recovery Entergy Arkansas In May 2014, Entergy Arkansas filed its annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider to recover the $3 million unrecovered retail balance as of December 31, 2013 and the $68 million System Agreement bandwidth remedy payment made in May 2014 as a result of the compliance filing pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders related to the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. In June 2014 the APSC suspended the annual redetermination of the production cost allocation rider and scheduled a hearing in September 2014. Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi had a deferred fuel balance of $60.4 million as of March 31, 2014. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed for an interim adjustment under its energy cost recovery rider. The interim adjustment proposed a net energy cost factor designed to collect over a six-month period the under-recovered deferred fuel balance as of March 31, 2014 and also reflects a natural gas price of $4.50 per MMBtu. In May 2014, Entergy Mississippi and the Public Utilities Staff entered into a joint stipulation in which Entergy Mississippi agreed to a revised net energy cost factor that reflected the proposed interim adjustment with a reduction in costs recovered through the energy cost recovery rider associated with the suspension of the DOE nuclear waste storage fee. In June 2014 the MPSC approved the joint stipulation and allowed Entergy Mississippi’s interim adjustment. The revised net energy cost factor will remain in effect through the end of 2014. Retail Rate Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for detailed information regarding retail rate proceedings involving the Utility operating companies. The following are updates to that information. Filings with the LPSC Retail Rates - Electric (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement and adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $3.8 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. (Entergy Louisiana) See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the base rate case filed by Entergy Louisiana in February 2013. Pursuant to the rate case settlement approved by the LPSC in December 2013, Entergy Louisiana submitted a compliance filing in May 2014 reflecting the effects of the $10 million agreed-upon increase in formula rate plan revenue, the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement, and the adjustment of the additional capacity mechanism requiring a net increase of approximately $39 million in formula rate plan revenue to be implemented over nine months commencing with the first billing cycle of December 2014. Before rates are implemented in December 2014, an updated compliance filing will be made in November 2014 to further refine the estimated MISO cost recovery mechanism revenue requirement component of the May 2014 compliance filing to then-available actual data. As discussed in the Form 10-K, the LPSC is conducting a prudence review of the Waterford 3 replacement steam generator project with regard to the following aspects of the project: 1) project management; 2) cost controls; 3) success in achieving stated objectives; 4) the costs of the replacement project; and 5) the outage length and replacement power costs. In July 2014 the LPSC Staff filed testimony recommending potential project and replacement power cost disallowances of up $71 million, citing a need for further explanation or documentation from Entergy Louisiana. An intervenor filed testimony recommending disallowance of $141 million of incremental project costs, claiming the steam generator fabricator was imprudent. Entergy Louisiana believes that the replacement steam generator costs were prudently incurred and applicable legal principles support their recovery in rates. Entergy Louisiana will provide further documentation and explanation requested by the LPSC staff. Cross-answering testimony is due in August 2014 and rebuttal testimony is due in September 2014. An evidentiary hearing is scheduled for December 2014. Retail Rates - Gas (Entergy Gulf States Louisiana) In January 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana filed with the LPSC its gas rate stabilization plan for the test year ended September 30, 2013. The filing showed an earned return on common equity of 5.47%, which results in a $1.5 million rate increase. In April 2014 the LPSC Staff issued a report indicating "that Entergy Gulf States Louisiana has properly determined its earnings for the test year ended September 30, 2013." The $1.5 million rate increase was implemented effective with the first billing cycle of April 2014. Filings with the MPSC (Entergy Mississippi) In June 2014, Entergy Mississippi filed its first general rate case before the MPSC in almost 12 years. The rate filing lays out Entergy Mississippi’s plans for improving reliability, modernizing the grid, maintaining its workforce, stabilizing rates, utilizing new technologies, and attracting new industry to its service territory. Entergy Mississippi requests a net increase in revenue of $49 million for bills rendered during calendar year 2015, including $30 million resulting from new depreciation rates to update the estimated service life of assets. In addition, the filing proposes, among other things: 1) realigning cost recovery of the Attala and Hinds power plant acquisitions from the power management rider to base rates; 2) including certain MISO-related revenues and expenses in the power management rider; 3) power management rider changes that reflect the changes in costs and revenues that will accompany Entergy Mississippi’s withdrawal from participation in the System Agreement; and 4) a formula rate plan forward test year to allow for known changes in expenses and revenues for the rate effective period. Entergy Mississippi proposes maintaining the current authorized return on common equity of 10.59%. A hearing is scheduled for November 2014, and the procedural schedule calls for rates to be effective January 30, 2015. Filings with the City Council (Entergy Louisiana) In March 2013, Entergy Louisiana filed a rate case for the Algiers area, which is in New Orleans and is regulated by the City Council. Entergy Louisiana requested a rate increase of $13 million over three years, including a 10.4% return on common equity and a formula rate plan mechanism identical to its LPSC request made in February 2013. In January 2014 the City Council advisors filed direct testimony recommending a rate increase of $5.56 million over three years, including an 8.13% return on common equity. In June 2014 the City Council unanimously approved a settlement that includes the following:
• | a $9.3 million base rate revenue increase to be phased in on a levelized basis over four years;
• | recovery of an additional $853 thousand annually through a MISO recovery rider; and
• | the adoption of a four-year formula rate plan requiring the filing of annual evaluation reports in May of each year, commencing May 2015, with resulting rates being implemented in October of each year. The formula rate plan includes a midpoint target authorized return on common equity of 9.95% with a +/- 40 basis point bandwidth.
The rate increase was effective with bills rendered on and after the first billing cycle of July 2014. Filings with the PUCT (Entergy Texas) 2013 Rate Case In September 2013, Entergy Texas filed a rate case requesting a $38.6 million base rate increase reflecting a 10.4% return on common equity based on an adjusted test year ending March 31, 2013. The rate case also proposed (1) a rough production cost equalization adjustment rider recovering Entergy Texas’s payment to Entergy New Orleans to achieve rough production cost equalization based on calendar year 2012 production costs and (2) a rate case expense rider recovering the cost of the 2013 rate case and certain costs associated with previous rate cases. The rate case filing also included a request to reconcile $0.9 billion of fuel and purchased power costs and fuel revenues covering the period July 2011 through March 2013. The fuel reconciliation also reflects special circumstances fuel cost recovery of approximately $22 million of purchased power capacity costs. In January 2014 the PUCT staff filed direct testimony recommending a retail rate reduction of $0.3 million and a 9.2% return on common equity. In March 2014, Entergy Texas filed an Agreed Motion for Interim Rates. The motion explained that the parties to this proceeding have agreed that Entergy Texas should be allowed to implement new rates reflecting an $18.5 million base rate increase, effective for usage on and after April 1, 2014, as well as recovery of charges for rough production cost equalization and rate case expenses. In March 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings, the body assigned to hear the case, approved the motion. In April 2014, Entergy Texas filed a unanimous stipulation in this case. Among other things, the stipulation provides for an $18.5 million base rate increase, recovery over three years of the calendar year 2012 rough production cost equalization charges and rate case expenses, and states a 9.8% return on common equity. In addition, the stipulation finalizes the fuel and purchased power reconciliation covering the period July 2011 through March 2013, with the parties stipulating an immaterial fuel disallowance. No special circumstances recovery of purchased power capacity costs was allowed. In April 2014 the State Office of Administrative Hearings remanded the case back to the PUCT for final processing. In May 2014 the PUCT approved the stipulation. No motions for rehearing were filed during the statutory rehearing period. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana Business Combination Study In June 2014, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a business combination study report with the LPSC. The report contains a preliminary analysis of the potential combination of Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana into a single public utility. Though not a formal application, the report provides an overview of the combination and identifies its potential customer benefits. Although not part of the business combination, Entergy Louisiana provided notice to the City Council in June 2014 that it anticipates it will seek authorization to transfer to Entergy New Orleans the assets that currently support Entergy Louisiana’s customers in Algiers. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will hold technical conferences and face-to-face meetings with LPSC staff, City Council advisors, and other stakeholders to discuss potential effects of the combination, solicit suggestions and concerns, and identify areas in which additional information might be needed. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana held a technical conference at the LPSC to discuss the business combination in July 2014 and scheduled a second technical conference to be held in August 2014. System Agreement Cost Equalization Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the proceedings regarding the System Agreement, including the FERC’s October 2011 order and Entergy’s December 2011 compliance filing in response to that order. In February 2014 the FERC issued a rehearing order addressing its October 2011 order. The FERC denied the LPSC’s request for rehearing on the issues of whether the bandwidth remedy should be made effective earlier than June 1, 2005, and whether refunds should be ordered for the 20-month refund effective period. The FERC granted the LPSC’s rehearing request on the issue of interest on the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period, requiring that interest be accrued from June 1, 2006 until the date those bandwidth payments/receipts are made. In April 2014 the LPSC filed a petition for review of the FERC’s October 2011 and February 2014 orders with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Also in February 2014 the FERC issued an order rejecting the December 2011 compliance filing that calculated the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period. The FERC order requires a new compliance filing that calculates the bandwidth payments/receipts for the June - December 2005 period based on monthly data for the seven individual months and that includes interest pursuant to the February 2014 rehearing order. Entergy has sought rehearing of the February 2014 orders with respect to the FERC’s determinations regarding interest. In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC an updated compliance filing that provides the payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies pursuant to the FERC’s February 2014 orders. The filing shows the following net payments and receipts, including interest, among the Utility operating companies:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Arkansas | $68 |
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | ($10) |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | ($11) |
Entergy New Orleans | $2 |
Entergy Texas | ($49) |
These payments were made in May 2014. The LPSC, City Council, and APSC have filed protests. 2008 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2007 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In August 2014 the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion dismissing the LPSC petition for review of the FERC’s order. Comprehensive Bandwidth Recalculation for 2007, 2008, and 2009 Rate Filing Proceedings See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this comprehensive bandwidth recalculation. In July 2014 the FERC issued four orders in connection with various Service Schedule MSS-3 rough production cost equalization formula compliance filings and rehearing requests. Specifically, the FERC accepted Entergy Services’ revised methodologies for calculating certain cost components of the formula and affirmed its prior ruling requiring interest on the true-up amounts. The FERC directed that a comprehensive recalculation of the formula be performed for the filing years 2007 and 2008 based on calendar years 2006 and 2007 production costs. The comprehensive recalculation is due to be filed with the FERC within 45 days of the orders, or on September 15, 2014 and the bandwidth payments associated with the recalculations are expected to be made in October 2014. Management is evaluating the effect of these orders on the 2009 rate filing proceeding. 2011 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2010 Production Costs See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of this proceeding. In March 2014 the Fifth Circuit rejected the LPSC’s petition for a writ of mandamus. 2014 Rate Filing Based on Calendar Year 2013 Production Costs In May 2014, Entergy filed with the FERC the 2014 rates in accordance with the FERC’s orders in the System Agreement proceeding. The filing shows the following payments and receipts among the Utility operating companies for 2014, based on calendar year 2013 production costs, commencing for service in June 2014, are necessary to achieve rough production cost equalization under the FERC’s orders:
| Payments (Receipts)
| (In Millions)
Entergy Gulf States Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Louisiana | $— |
Entergy Mississippi | $— |
Entergy New Orleans | ($15) |
Entergy Texas | $15 |
The LPSC protested the filing and the PUCT and City Council filed comments regarding the filing. Storm Cost Recovery Filings with Retail Regulators Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $73.8 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $247.7 million for Entergy Louisiana. In January 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana drew $65 million and $187 million, respectively, from their funded storm reserve escrow accounts. In April 2013, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana filed a joint application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Following an evidentiary hearing and recommendations by the ALJ, the LPSC voted in June 2014 to approve a series of orders which (i) quantify the amount of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs prudently incurred ($66.5 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $224.3 million for Entergy Louisiana); (ii) determine the level of storm reserves to be re-established ($90 million for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and $200 million for Entergy Louisiana); (iii) authorize Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana to utilize Louisiana Act 55 financing for Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs; and (iv) grant other requested relief associated with storm reserves and Act 55 financing of Hurricane Isaac system restoration costs. Approvals for the Act 55 financings were obtained from the Louisiana Utilities Restoration Corporation (LURC) and the Louisiana State Bond Commission. In August 2014 the Louisiana Local Government Environmental Facilities and Community Development Authority (LCDA) issued $71 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $69 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $3 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and transferred $66 million directly to Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Gulf States Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana then immediately used the $66 million to acquire 662,426.80 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy, that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. In August 2014 the LCDA issued another $243.85 million in bonds under Act 55 of the Louisiana Legislature. From the $240 million of bond proceeds loaned by the LCDA to the LURC, the LURC deposited $13 million in a restricted escrow account as a storm damage reserve for Entergy Louisiana and transferred $227 million directly to Entergy Louisiana. From the bond proceeds received by Entergy Louisiana from the LURC, Entergy Louisiana then immediately used the $227 million to acquire 2,272,725.89 Class C preferred, non-voting, membership interest units of Entergy Holdings Company LLC that carry a 7.5% annual distribution rate. Distributions are payable quarterly commencing on September 15, 2014, and the membership interests have a liquidation price of $100 per unit. The preferred membership interests are callable at the option of Entergy Holdings Company LLC after ten years under the terms of the LLC agreement. The terms of the membership interests include certain financial covenants to which Entergy Holdings Company LLC is subject, including the requirement to maintain a net worth of at least $1.75 billion. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the bonds on their balance sheets because the bonds are the obligation of the LCDA and there is no recourse against Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, or Entergy Louisiana in the event of a bond default. To service the bonds, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana and Entergy Louisiana will collect a system restoration charge on behalf of the LURC, and remit the collections to the bond indenture trustee. Entergy, Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, and Entergy Louisiana will not report the collections as revenue because they are merely acting as the billing and collection agents for the state. Entergy New Orleans As discussed in the Form 10-K, total restoration costs for the repair and replacement of Entergy New Orleans’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Isaac were $47.3 million. Entergy New Orleans withdrew $17.4 million from the storm reserve escrow account to partially offset these costs. In February 2014, Entergy New Orleans made a filing with the City Council seeking certification of the Hurricane Isaac costs. In July 2014 the City Council adopted a procedural schedule that provides for hearings on the merits in September 2015.

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