10-K 1 a10-k.htm _______________________________________________________________________________________________

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

FORM 10-K

 

(Mark One)

X

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

   
 

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2002

 

OR

 

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

   
 

For the transition period from ____________ to ____________

Commission

Registrant, State of Incorporation,

IRS Employer

File Number

Address of Principal Executive Offices and Telephone Number

Identification No.

1-11299

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

72-1229752

     

1-10764

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

71-0005900

     

1-27031

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

74-0662730

     

1-8474

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

72-0245590

     

1-31508

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

64-0205830

     

0-5807

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

72-0273040

     

1-9067

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

72-0752777

     

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

     


Registrant


Title of Class

Name of Each Exchange
on Which Registered

 

Entergy Corporation

Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value - 223,869,216
shares outstanding at February 28, 2003

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
Chicago Stock Exchange Inc.
Pacific Exchange Inc.

     

Entergy Arkansas Capital I

8-1/2% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred
Securities, Series A

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value:
$4.40 Dividend Series
$4.52 Dividend Series
$5.08 Dividend Series
Adjustable Rate Series B (Depository Receipts)

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
New York Stock Exchange, Inc.
New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

   

Entergy Gulf States Capital I

8.75% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred
Securities, Series A

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     

Entergy Louisiana Capital I

9% Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred
Securities, Series A

New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

     

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Registrant

Title of Class

   

Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value
Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $0.01 Par Value

   

Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value

   

Entergy Louisiana, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value
Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $25 Par Value

   

Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value

   

Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

Preferred Stock, Cumulative, $100 Par Value

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes Ö No ____

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrants' knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [Ö ]

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

 

Yes

No

Entergy Corporation
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Entergy Gulf States, Inc.
Entergy Louisiana, Inc.
Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
Entergy New Orleans, Inc.
System Energy Resources, Inc.

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The aggregate market value of Entergy Corporation Common Stock, $0.01 Par Value, held by non-affiliates as of the end of the second quarter of 2002, was $9.4 billion based on the reported last sale price of $42.44 per share for such stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 28, 2002. Entergy Corporation is directly or indirectly the sole holder of the common stock of Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Proxy Statement of Entergy Corporation to be filed in connection with its Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be held May 9, 2003, are incorporated by reference into Parts I and III hereof.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SEC Form 10-K
Reference Number

Page
Number

     

Definitions

 

i

Entergy Corporation

   

      Business

Part I. Item 1.

1

         Strategy and Performance

 

3

         Significant Business Issues

 

5

         Employees

 

7

      Report of Management

 

8

      Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

9

         Results of Operations

 

9

         Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

16

         Significant Factors and Known Trends

 

23

         Critical Accounting Estimates

 

31

      Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

38

      Independent Auditors' Report

 

39

      Consolidated Statements of Income For the Years Ended December 31,
        2002, 2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

41

      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December
        31, 2002, 2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

42

      Consolidated Balance Sheets, December 31, 2002 and 2001

Part II. Item 8.

44

      Consolidated Statements of Retained Earnings, Comprehensive Income,
        and Paid in Capital for the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001,
        and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

46

      Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Part II. Item 8.

47

   U.S. Utility

   

      Business

Part I. Item 1.

97

         Customers

 

97

         Electric Energy Sales

 

98

         Property

 

99

         Fuel Supply

 

100

         Regulation of the Nuclear Power Industry

 

103

         Rate Matters

 

105

         State Regulation

 

116

         Environmental Regulation

 

117

         Litigation

 

121

         Research

 

125

         Earnings Ratios

 

126

      Financial Information

 

127

   Non-Utility Nuclear

   

      Business

Part I. Item 1.

128

         Property

 

128

         Power Purchase Agreements

 

128

         Fuel Supply

 

129

         Other

 

129

         Regulation of the Nuclear Power Industry

 

129

         Environmental Regulation

 

132

      Financial Information

 

133

   Energy Commodity Services

   

      Business

Part I. Item 1.

134

         Entergy-Koch, LP

 

134

         Non-Nuclear Wholesale Asset Business

 

135

      Financial Information

 

137

   Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

   

      Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

138

         Results of Operations

 

138

         Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

140

         Significant Factors and Known Trends

 

143

         Critical Accounting Estimates

 

145

      Independent Auditors' Report

 

150

      Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001,
        and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

151

      Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2002,
        2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

153

      Balance Sheets, December 31, 2002 and 2001

Part II. Item 8.

154

      Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31,
        2002, 2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

156

      Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

157

   Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

   

      Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

158

         Results of Operations

 

158

         Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

160

         Significant Factors and Known Trends

 

163

         Critical Accounting Estimates

 

170

      Independent Auditors' Report

 

175

      Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001,
        and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

176

      Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2002,
        2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

177

      Balance Sheets, December 31, 2002 and 2001

Part II. Item 8.

178

      Statements of Retained Earnings and Comprehensive Income for the
        Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

180

      Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

181

   Entergy Louisiana, Inc.

   

      Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

182

         Results of Operations

 

182

         Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

184

         Significant Factors and Known Trends

 

187

         Critical Accounting Estimates

 

190

      Independent Auditors' Report

 

194

      Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001,
        and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

195

      Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2002,
        2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

197

      Balance Sheets, December 31, 2002 and 2001

Part II. Item 8.

198

      Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31,
        2002, 2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

200

      Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

201

   Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

   

      Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

202

         Results of Operations

 

202

         Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

204

         Significant Factors and Known Trends

 

206

         Critical Accounting Estimates

 

208

      Independent Auditors' Report

 

211

      Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001,
        and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

212

      Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2002,
        2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

213

      Balance Sheets, December 31, 2002 and 2001

Part II. Item 8.

214

      Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31,
        2002, 2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

216

      Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

217

   Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

   

      Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

218

         Results of Operations

 

218

         Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

220

         Significant Factors and Known Trends

 

223

         Critical Accounting Estimates

 

224

      Independent Auditors' Report

 

227

      Statements of Operations For the Years Ended December 31, 2002,
        2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

228

      Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2002,
        2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

229

      Balance Sheets, December 31, 2002 and 2001

Part II. Item 8.

230

      Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31,
        2002, 2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

232

      Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

233

   System Energy Resources, Inc.

   

      Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Part II. Item 7.

234

         Results of Operations

 

234

         Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

235

         Significant Factors and Known Trends

 

237

         Critical Accounting Estimates

 

238

      Independent Auditors' Report

 

242

      Income Statements For the Years Ended December 31, 2002, 2001,
        and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

243

      Statements of Cash Flows For the Years Ended December 31, 2002,
        2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

245

      Balance Sheets, December 31, 2002 and 2001

Part II. Item 8.

246

      Statements of Retained Earnings for the Years Ended December 31,
        2002, 2001, and 2000

Part II. Item 8.

248

      Selected Financial Data - Five-Year Comparison

Part II. Item 6.

249

Notes to Respective Financial Statements

Part II. Item 8.

250

Properties

Part I. Item 2.

304

Legal Proceedings

Part I. Item 3.

304

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Part I. Item 4.

304

Directors and Executive Officers of Entergy Corporation

Part III. Item 10.

304

Market for Registrants' Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters

Part II. Item 5.

307

Selected Financial Data

Part II. Item 6.

308

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
   Operations

Part II. Item 7.

308

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Part II. Item 7A.

309

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Part II. Item 8.

309

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
   Disclosure

Part II. Item 9.

309

Directors and Executive Officers of the Domestic Utility Companies and
   System Energy

Part III. Item 10.

310

Executive Compensation

Part III. Item 11.

313

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

Part III. Item 12.

325

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Part III. Item 13.

328

Controls and Procedures

Part IV. Item 14

329

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports on Form 8-K

Part IV. Item 15.

329

Signatures

 

330

Certifications

 

337

Independent Auditors' Consents

 

346

Independent Auditors' Report on Financial Statement Schedules

 

347

Index to Financial Statement Schedules

 

S-1

Exhibit Index

 

E-1

     
     

This combined Form 10-K is separately filed by Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc. Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf. Each company makes representations only as to itself and makes no other representations whatsoever as to any other company.

The report should be read in its entirety as it pertains to each respective registrant. No one section of the report deals with all aspects of the subject matter. Separate Item 6, 7, and 8 sections are provided for each registrant, except for the Notes to the financial statements. The Entergy Corporation Notes to the financial statements are separately presented, but the Notes to the financial statements for the other registrants are combined. These two sets of Notes are marked by headers. All other Items are combined for the registrants. Item 1 is marked by a header to indicate where it applies only to Entergy Corporation and where it applies to one or more of the registrants.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

From time to time, Entergy makes statements concerning its expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, and future events or performance. Such statements are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although Entergy believes that these forward-looking statements and the underlying assumptions are reasonable, it cannot provide assurance that they will prove correct.

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

    • resolution of pending and future rate cases and negotiations, including the Entergy New Orleans rate case and various performance-based rate discussions, and other regulatory decisions, including those related to Entergy's utility supply plan
    • Entergy's ability to reduce its operation and maintenance costs, particularly at its Non-Utility Nuclear generating facilities, including the uncertainty of negotiations with unions to agree to such reductions
    • the performance of Entergy's generating plants, and particularly the capacity factor at its nuclear generating facilities
    • prices for power generated by Entergy's unregulated generating facilities - particularly the ability to extend or replace the existing power purchase agreements for the Non-Utility Nuclear plants - and the prices and availability of power Entergy must purchase for its utility customers
    • Entergy's ability to develop and execute on a point of view regarding prices of electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related commodities
    • Entergy-Koch's profitability in trading electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related commodities
    • changes in the number of participants in the energy trading market, and in their creditworthiness and risk profile
    • changes in the financial markets, particularly those affecting the availability of capital and Entergy's ability to refinance existing debt and to fund investments and acquisitions
    • actions of rating agencies, including changes in the ratings of debt and preferred stock
    • changes in inflation and interest rates
    • Entergy's ability to purchase and sell assets at attractive prices and on other attractive terms
    • volatility and changes in markets for electricity, natural gas, and other energy-related commodities
    • changes in utility regulation, including the beginning or end of retail and wholesale competition, the ability to recover net utility assets and other potential stranded costs, and the establishment of SeTrans or another regional transmission organization
    • changes in regulation of nuclear generating facilities and nuclear materials and fuel, including possible shutdown of Indian Point or other nuclear generating facilities
    • changes in environmental, tax, and other laws, including requirements for reduced emissions of sulfur, nitrogen, carbon, and other substances
    • the economic climate, and particularly growth in Entergy's service territory
    • variations in weather, hurricanes, and other disasters
    • advances in technology
    • the potential impacts of threatened or actual terrorism and war
    • the success of Entergy's strategies to reduce taxes
    • the effects of litigation
    • changes in accounting standards
    • changes in corporate governance and securities law requirements and
    • Entergy's ability to attract and retain talented management and directors.

DEFINITIONS

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

Abbreviation or Acronym Term

ADEQ

Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality

ALJ

Administrative Law Judge

ANO 1 and 2

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

APB

Accounting Principles Board

APSC

Arkansas Public Service Commission

BCF

One billion cubic feet of natural gas

BCF/D

One billion cubic feet of natural gas per day

Board

Board of Directors of Entergy Corporation

BPS

British pounds sterling

Cajun

Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Inc.

capacity factor

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

CitiPower

CitiPower Pty., an electric distribution company serving Melbourne, Australia and surrounding suburbs, which was sold by Entergy effective December 31, 1998

City Council or Council

Council of the City of New Orleans, Louisiana

DOE

United States Department of Energy

domestic utility companies

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

EITF

Emerging Issues Task Force

electricity marketed

Total physical GWh volumes marketed in the U.S. during the period

electricity volatility

Measure of price fluctuation over time using standard deviation of daily price differences for into-Entergy and into-Cinergy power prices for the upcoming month

Entergy

Entergy Corporation and its various direct and indirect subsidiaries

Entergy Corporation

Entergy Corporation, a Delaware corporation

Entergy Gulf States

Entergy Gulf States, Inc., including its wholly owned subsidiaries - Varibus Corporation, GSG&T, Inc., Prudential Oil & Gas, Inc., and Southern Gulf Railway Company

Entergy-Koch

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

EPA

United States Environmental Protection Agency

EWO

Entergy Wholesale Operations, which primarily consists of Entergy's power development business

FASB

Financial Accounting Standards Board

FERC

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

FitzPatrick

James A. FitzPatrick nuclear power plant, 825 MW facility located near Oswego, New York, purchased in November 2000 from New York Power Authority (NYPA) by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business

gain/loss days

Ratio of the number of days when Entergy-Koch recognized a net gain from commodity trading activities to the number of days when Entergy-Koch recognized a net loss from commodity trading activities

gas marketed

Total volume of physical gas purchased plus volume of physical gas sold by Entergy-Koch in the U.S. denominated in billions of cubic feet per day

gas volatility

Measure of price fluctuation over time using standard deviation of daily price differences for Henry Hub natural gas prices for the upcoming month

GGART

Grand Gulf Accelerated Recovery Tariff

DEFINITIONS (Continued)

Abbreviation or Acronym Term

Grand Gulf 1

Unit 1 of Grand Gulf Steam Electric Generating Station (nuclear), 90% owned or leased by System Energy

GWh

Gigawatt hours, which equals one million kilowatt-hours

Independence

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

Indian Point 1

Indian Point Energy Center Unit 1 - nuclear power plant that has been shut-down and in safe storage since the 1970s, located in Westchester County, New York, purchased in September 2001 together with Indian Point 2 from Consolidated Edison by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business

Indian Point 2

Indian Point Energy Center Unit 2 - nuclear power plant, 970 MW facility located in Westchester County, New York purchased in September 2001 from Consolidated Edison by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business

Indian Point 3

Indian Point Energy Center Unit 3 - nuclear power plant, 980 MW facility located in Westchester County, New York purchased in November 2000 from NYPA by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business

IRS

Internal Revenue Service

kV

kilovolt

kW

kilowatt

kWh

kilowatt-hours

LDEQ

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

LPSC

Louisiana Public Service Commission

Mcf

1,000 cubic feet of gas

miles of pipeline

Total miles of transmission and gathering pipeline

MMBtu

One million British Thermal Units

MPSC

Mississippi Public Service Commission

MW

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

MWh

megawatt-hours

Nelson Unit 6

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

Net debt ratio

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

Net MW in operation

Installed capacity owned or operated

Net revenue

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

NRC

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Pilgrim

Pilgrim Nuclear Station, 670 MW facility located in Plymouth, Massachusetts, purchased in July 1999 from Boston Edison by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business

production cost

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

PRP

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

PUCT

Public Utility Commission of Texas

PUHCA

Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended

Ritchie Unit 2

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

River Bend

River Bend Steam Electric Generating Station (nuclear)

RTO

Regional transmission organization

SEC

Securities and Exchange Commission

DEFINITIONS (Concluded)

Abbreviation or Acronym Term

SFAS

Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, promulgated by the FASB

SMEPA

South Mississippi Electric Power Agency, which owns a 10% interest in Grand Gulf 1

spark spread

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

storage capacity

Working gas storage capacity

throughput

Gas in BCF/D transported through a pipeline during the period

UK

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Vermont Yankee

Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, 510 MW facility located in Vernon, Vermont, purchased in July 2002 from Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corporation (VYNPC) by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business

Waterford 3

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

weather-adjusted usage

electric usage excluding the effects of weather deviations from normal

White Bluff

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

ENTERGY'S BUSINESS

                    Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production, retail distribution operations, energy marketing and trading, and gas transportation. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 MW of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.6 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Through Entergy-Koch, Entergy is a leading provider of wholesale energy marketing and trading services, as well as an operator of natural gas pipeline and storage facilities. Entergy had annual revenues of over $8 billion in 2002 and more than 15,000 employees as of December 31, 2002.

                    Entergy operates primarily through three business segments: U.S. Utility, Non-Utility Nuclear, and Energy Commodity Services.

    • U.S. Utility generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power, with a small amount of natural gas distribution.
    • Non-Utility Nuclear owns and operates five nuclear power plants and is primarily focused on selling electric power produced by those plants to wholesale customers.
    • Energy Commodity Services is focused almost exclusively on providing energy commodity trading and gas transportation and storage services through Entergy-Koch, L.P. Energy Commodity Services also includes Entergy's non-nuclear wholesale asset business.

Following are the percentages of Entergy's consolidated revenues and net income generated by these segments and the percentage of total assets held by them:

 

% of Revenue

% of Net Income

% of Total Assets

Segment

2002

2001

2000

2002

2001

2000

2002

2001

2000

                   

U.S. Utility

82

77

74

97 

77 

87 

78 

78

81

Non-Utility Nuclear

14

8

3

32 

17 

17 

13

9

Energy Commodity Services

4

14

23

(23)

14 

9

10

Parent & Other

-

1

-

(6)

(8)

(2)

(3)

-

-

The net income figures in 2002 include a $238 million net of tax charge in the Energy Commodity Services segment. If this charge were excluded, the percentages would be 70% for U.S. Utility, 23% for Non-Utility Nuclear, 11% for Energy Commodity Services, and (4%) for Parent & Other.

                Entergy's business has traditionally operated primarily through its regulated utility subsidiaries in its four-state service territory. Entergy has reshaped its non-utility business through the sale of its international electric distribution businesses in 1998, the growth of its non-utility nuclear business in the northeastern United States beginning in 1999, and the termination of its greenfield power development business in 2002. With the start of the Entergy-Koch venture in early 2001, Entergy expanded its business opportunities into new areas. The trading activities of Entergy-Koch extend to various parts of the United States, as well as the United Kingdom, Western Europe, and Canada. Entergy-Koch's Gulf South Pipeline system covers the Gulf Coast region of the United States. Entergy's financial interest in the Entergy-Koch venture allows it to appoint four of the eight members of the general partner's board of directors. Operating decisions for Entergy-Koch are made by Entergy-Koch management.

                The following shows the principal subsidiaries within Entergy's business segments. Companies that file reports and other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are identified in bold-faced type.

                The following is a brief summary of Entergy's business segments. More detailed information on each of Entergy's businesses can be found in the U.S. Utility, Non-Utility Nuclear, and Energy Commodity Services sections, including certain business segment financial information.

                The U.S. Utility is Entergy's predominant business segment, with five wholly-owned retail electric utility subsidiaries: Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans. These companies generate, transmit, distribute, and sell electric power to retail and wholesale customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

                Entergy Gulf States and Entergy New Orleans also provide natural gas utility services to customers in and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana and New Orleans, Louisiana, respectively. Also included in the U.S. Utility is System Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary that owns or leases 90 percent of Grand Gulf 1. System Energy sells all the power and capacity from Grand Gulf 1 at wholesale to four of the domestic utility companies. As a registered public utility holding company under the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, Entergy and its subsidiaries are subject to the broad regulatory provisions of PUHCA. Rates and other activities of the domestic utility companies are each regulated by state utility commissions, or in the case of Entergy New Orleans, the City Council. System Energy is regulated by the FERC as all of its transactions are at the wholesale level. Entergy's U.S. Utility continues to operate as a regulated monopoly as efforts toward deregulation in the jurisdictions it serves have either been delayed, abandoned, or not yet initiated.

                The primary objective of the U.S. Utility is to provide reliable and cost-effective electricity and gas service while creating a work environment that provides the highest level of safety for its employees. Since 1998 the U.S. Utility has significantly improved key customer service, reliability, and safety metrics. The overall generation portfolio of the U.S. Utility, which is primarily made up of natural gas and nuclear generation, is consistent with Entergy's strong support for environmental stewardship.

                The Non-Utility Nuclear business and Energy Commodity Services are referred to as Entergy's competitive businesses. These businesses, unlike the U.S. Utility, are not subject to cost-based rate regulation by state or local utility commissions. Primary oversight for these operations comes from the NRC and the FERC.

                Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business is focused on acquiring, owning, operating, and selling power from nuclear power plants and providing operations and management services to nuclear power plants owned by other utilities in the United States. Non-Utility Nuclear sells all of its power to wholesale customers. Operations and management services, including decommissioning services, are provided through Entergy's wholly-owned subsidiary, Entergy Nuclear, Inc.

                Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business currently owns assets located in the northeastern portion of the United States as shown on the map below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

                The Energy Commodity Services segment includes the operations of Entergy-Koch (50% owned by Entergy) and Entergy's non-nuclear wholesale asset business. Entergy-Koch is engaged in two major businesses: energy commodity marketing and trading that includes power, gas, weather derivatives, emissions, and cross-commodities through Entergy-Koch Trading and gas transportation and storage through Gulf South Pipeline. Entergy's non-nuclear wholesale asset business owns and operates power plants capable of generating about 1,400 MW of electricity for sale in the wholesale market.

Strategy and Performance

                Entergy's strategy is to create value by focusing on asset management and strong operational execution, with a particular emphasis on service reliability and nuclear excellence.  Entergy continually evaluates its business position, with a view toward enhancing the company's scale, scope, and skill advantages. It applies a well-developed point of view of the marketplace and strong risk management to manage its asset portfolio and customer relationships. Entergy benchmarks its operational performance against industry and competitor standards on measures such as safety, reliability, customer service, and cost efficiency.

                The following graph compares the performance of Entergy common stock to the S&P 500 Index and Philadelphia Utility Index (each of which includes Entergy) for the last five years:

 

 

 

Years ended December 31,

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

Entergy

$100

$109.62

$94.45

$161.91

$154.58

$185.90

S&P 500 (2)

$100

$128.58

$155.63

$141.46

$124.66

$97.12

Philadelphia Utility Index (2)

$100

$117.63

$96.96

$145.91

$126.89

$103.61

  1. Assumes $100 invested at the closing price on December 31, 1997, in Entergy common stock, the S&P 500, and the Philadelphia Utility Index, and reinvestment of all dividends.
  2. Cumulative total returns calculated from the S&P 500 Index and Philadelphia Utility Index maintained by Standard & Poor's Corporation.

                Selected Entergy financial data obtained from Entergy's consolidated financial statements for the past three years is reflected on the charts below.

                A more detailed discussion of Entergy's operations is set forth below in "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS."

 

Significant Business Issues

Rate Regulation and Fuel-Cost Recovery

               
The rates that the domestic utility companies and System Energy charge for their services are a very important item influencing Entergy's financial position, results of operations, and liquidity. See Rate Regulation and Fuel-Cost Recovery in "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS" and "Rate Matters" in Part I, Item 1 for discussion of this issue.

 

Utility Restructuring

 

                Utility restructuring in Entergy's retail service territories has either been delayed, abandoned, or not pursued; however, major changes are occurring in the wholesale and retail electric utility business, including in the transmission business. See Utility Restructuring in "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS" for discussion of these issues.

 

Nuclear Matters

 

                The domestic utility companies, System Energy, and the Non-Utility Nuclear subsidiaries own and operate, through affiliates, ten nuclear power plants. See Nuclear Matters in "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS" for discussion of the risks inherent in owning and operating nuclear power plants.

 

Price of Power Sales

 

                The sale of capacity and energy from the power generation plants owned by the Non-Utility Nuclear business and the non-nuclear wholesale asset business is subject to fluctuations in the market price for power. See Market and Credit Risks in "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS" for a discussion of the market risk associated with these businesses.

 

Energy Trading

 

                Entergy owns a 50% interest in Entergy-Koch. Entergy-Koch, through its Entergy-Koch Trading subsidiary, buys and sells natural gas, power, and other energy-related services and commodities, including weather derivatives. Prices of these commodities may fluctuate over relatively short periods of time and expose Entergy-Koch to commodity price risk. See Market and Credit Risks in "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS" for a discussion of the market risk associated with the energy trading business.

 

Financing

 

                Entergy relies on access to both short-term money markets and longer-term capital markets as a source of liquidity for capital requirements and refinancing not satisfied by the cash flow from its operations. See Liquidity and Capital Resources in "MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS" for a discussion of these matters.

Litigation

 

                Entergy and its subsidiaries are involved in the ordinary course of business in a substantial amount of employment, asbestos, hazardous material and other environmental and rate-related, proceedings and litigation, a significant portion of which originates in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy uses legal and appropriate means to contest litigation threatened or filed against it, but the litigation environment in these states poses a significant business risk. See "Litigation" below in Part I, Item 1 for additional discussion of significant litigation involving Entergy.

 

Other Regulation

                In addition to the regulation of rates that the domestic utility companies and System Energy charge for sales of electric power, there are three additional primary areas of regulation: federal regulation of the utility business, regulation of nuclear power, and environmental regulation. The regulation of nuclear power and environmental regulation are discussed in detail in the description of the U.S. Utility Business and Non-Utility Nuclear Business sections of Part I, Item 1.

PUHCA

                The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, regulates companies like Entergy Corporation that serve as holding companies to domestic operating utilities. Some of the more significant impacts of PUHCA are that it:

    • limits the operations of a registered holding company system to a single, integrated public utility system, plus related systems and businesses;
    • regulates transactions among affiliates within a holding company system;
    • governs the issuance, acquisition, and disposition of securities and assets by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries;
    • limits the entry by registered holding companies and their subsidiaries into businesses other than electric and/or gas utility businesses; and
    • requires SEC approval for certain utility mergers and acquisitions.

                Entergy continues to support the broad industry effort to pass legislation in the United States Congress to repeal PUHCA and transfer certain aspects of the oversight of public utility holding companies from the SEC to FERC. Entergy believes that PUHCA inhibits its ability to compete in the evolving electric energy marketplace and largely duplicates the oversight activities otherwise performed by FERC, other federal regulators, and state and local regulators. In June 1995, the SEC adopted a report proposing options for the repeal or significant modification of PUHCA, which it continues to support.

Federal Power Act

                The Federal Power Act regulates:

    • the transmission and wholesale sale of electric energy in interstate commerce;
    • the licensing of certain hydroelectric projects; and
    • certain other activities, including accounting policies and practices of electric and gas utilities.

                The Federal Power Act gives FERC jurisdiction over the rates charged by System Energy for Grand Gulf 1 capacity and energy provided to Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans and over some of the rates charged by Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Gulf States. FERC also regulates the rates charged for intrasystem sales pursuant to the System Agreement.

                Entergy Arkansas holds a FERC license for two hydroelectric projects totaling 70 MW of capacity that was to expire on February 28, 2003. In December 2002, FERC issued an order approving Entergy Arkansas' application to renew the license for these two facilities. The license gives Entergy Arkansas permission to operate the projects for another 50 years.

 

Employees

                Employees are an integral part of Entergy's commitment to serving its customers. As of December 31, 2002, Entergy employed 15,601 people.

                Approximately 5,100 employees are represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, the Utility Workers Union of America, and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Availability of SEC filings and other information on Entergy's website

                Entergy's internet address is www.entergy.com. Entergy's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to any of these reports, are available free of charge through Entergy's web site, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing with the SEC. Financial presentations and news releases are also available through Entergy's website. Additionally, Entergy's Corporate Governance Guidelines, Board Committee Charters for the Corporate Governance, Audit, and Personnel Committees, and Entergy's Codes of Conduct are posted on Entergy's website. This information is also available in print to any shareholder that requests it.

Part I, Item 1 is continued on page 97.

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

REPORT OF MANAGEMENT

                Management of Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries has prepared and is responsible for the financial statements and related financial information included herein. The financial statements are based on accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Financial information included elsewhere in this report is consistent with the financial statements.

                To meet their responsibilities with respect to financial information, management maintains and enforces a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance, on a cost-effective basis, as to the integrity, objectivity, and reliability of the financial records, and as to the protection of assets. This system includes communication through written policies and procedures, an employee Code of Entegrity, and an organizational structure that provides for appropriate division of responsibility and the training of personnel. This system is also tested by a comprehensive internal audit program.

                The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, composed solely of Directors who are not employees of Entergy, meets with the independent auditors, management, and internal accountants periodically to discuss internal accounting controls and auditing and financial reporting matters. The Audit Committee appoints the independent auditors annually and reviews with the independent auditors the scope and results of the audit effort. The Committee also meets periodically with the independent auditors and the chief internal auditor without management, providing free access to the Committee.

                Independent public accountants provide an objective assessment of the degree to which management meets its responsibility for fairness of financial reporting. They regularly evaluate the system of internal accounting controls and perform such tests and other procedures as they deem necessary to reach and express an opinion on the fairness of the financial statements.

                Management believes that these policies and procedures provide reasonable assurance that its operations are carried out with a high standard of business conduct.

 

J. WAYNE LEONARD
Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Corporation

C. JOHN WILDER
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Corporation and System Energy Resources, Inc.

   
   

HUGH T. MCDONALD
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Arkansas, Inc.

JOSEPH F. DOMINO
Chairman of Entergy Gulf States, Inc., President and Chief Executive Officer - Texas of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

   
   

E. RENAE CONLEY
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Louisiana, Inc.; President and Chief Executive Officer- Louisiana of Entergy Gulf States, Inc.

CAROLYN C. SHANKS
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Mississippi, Inc.

   
   

DANIEL F. PACKER
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

JERRY W. YELVERTON
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of System Energy Resources, Inc.

   
   
 

THEODORE H. BUNTING, JR.
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States, Inc., Entergy Louisiana, Inc., Entergy Mississippi, Inc., and Entergy New Orleans, Inc.

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

 

                Entergy Corporation is an investor-owned public utility holding company that operates primarily through three business segments.

    • U.S. Utility generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power, with a small amount of natural gas distribution.
    • Non-Utility Nuclear owns and operates five nuclear power plants and is primarily focused on selling electric power produced by those plants to wholesale customers.
    • Energy Commodity Services is focused almost exclusively on providing energy commodity trading and gas transportation and storage services through Entergy-Koch, L.P. Energy Commodity Services also includes Entergy's non-nuclear wholesale assets business.

Following are the percentages of Entergy's consolidated revenues and net income generated by these segments and the percentage of total assets held by them:

Segment

% of Revenue

% of Net Income

% of Total Assets

 

2002

2001

2000

2002 (1)

2001

2000

2002

2001

2000

U.S. Utility

82

77

74

97 

77 

87 

78 

78

81

Non-Utility Nuclear

14

8

3

32 

17 

17 

13

9

Energy Commodity Services

4

14

23

(23)

14 

9

10

Parent & Other

-

1

-

(6)

(8)

(2)

(3)

-

-

(1) The net income figures in 2002 include a $238 million net of tax charge in the Energy Commodity Services segment. If this charge were excluded, the percentages would be 70% for U.S. Utility, 23% for Non-Utility Nuclear, 11% for Energy Commodity Services, and (4%) for Parent & Other.

Results of Operations

                Earnings applicable to common stock for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000 by operating segment are as follows:

                

                Results for 2002 were negatively affected by net charges ($238.3 million after-tax) reflecting the effect of Entergy's decision to discontinue additional greenfield power plant development and asset impairments resulting from the deteriorating economics of wholesale power markets principally in the United States and the United Kingdom. The net charges are discussed more fully below in the Energy Commodity Services discussion.

                Entergy's income before taxes is discussed according to the business segments listed above. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of Entergy's business segments and their financial results in 2002, 2001, and 2000.

                Refer to "SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA - FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON OF ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES, ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC., ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES, ENTERGY LOUISIANA, INC., ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, INC., ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, INC., AND SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC." which accompany each company's financial statements in this report for further information with respect to operating statistics.

U.S. Utility

                The increase in earnings for the U.S. Utility in 2002 from $550 million to $583 million was primarily due to a decrease in interest charges combined with an increase in other income, partially offset by decreases in operating income and interest income.

                The decrease in earnings for the U.S. Utility in 2001 from $587 million to $550 million was primarily due to a decrease in operating income and increased interest charges, partially offset by an increase in interest income.

Operating Income

2002 Compared to 2001

                Operating income decreased by $43.6 million in 2002 primarily due to:

    • an increase in other operation and maintenance expenses of $273.2 million. $159.9 million of this increase is offset in other regulatory credits and relates to a March 2002 settlement agreement and 2001 earnings review that became final in the second quarter of 2002, allowing Entergy Arkansas to recover a large majority of 2000 and 2001 ice storm repair expenses through previously-collected transition cost account (TCA) amounts. The remaining increase in other operation and maintenance expenses is explained below; and
    • an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses of $105.7 million primarily due to the effects in 2001 of the final FERC order addressing System Energy's 1995 rate filing.

Partially offsetting these decreases in operating income were the following:

    • increased revenues of $155.7 million due to increased electricity usage in the service territories;
    • an increase in revenue of $94.3 million due to an increase in the price applied to unbilled sales; and
    • an increase in other regulatory credits of $121.3 million primarily due to a March 2002 settlement agreement allowing Entergy Arkansas to recover a large majority of 2000 and 2001 ice storm repair expenses through the previously-collected TCA amounts. This increase is offset in other operation and maintenance expenses.

                In addition to the effect of the March 2002 settlement agreement, the increase in other operation and maintenance expenses was primarily due to:

    • an increase of $51.2 million in benefit costs;
    • increased expenses of $24.5 million at Entergy Arkansas due to the reversal in 2001 of ice storm costs previously charged to expense in December 2000;
    • an increase of $14.6 million in fossil plant expenses due to maintenance outages and turbine inspection costs at various plants;
    • an increase of $10.9 million to reflect the current estimate of the liability for the future disposal of low-level radioactive waste materials; and
    • lower nuclear insurance refunds of $6.7 million.

                Fuel recovery mechanisms at the domestic utility companies generally provide for the deferral of fuel and purchased power costs above the amounts included in existing rates. Operating revenues include a decrease in fuel cost recovery revenue of $897.4 million and $60.5 million related to electric sales and gas sales, respectively, primarily due to lower fuel recovery factors resulting from decreases in the market prices of natural gas and purchased power in 2002. As such, this revenue decrease is offset by decreased fuel and purchased power expenses. Also contributing to the decrease in fuel cost recovery revenue was a lower fuel recovery surcharge in 2002 in the Texas jurisdiction of Entergy Gulf States.

2001 Compared to 2000

                Operating income decreased $125.6 million in 2001 primarily due to:

    • decreased revenues of $161.9 million due to decreased electricity usage in the service territories;
    • a decrease in revenue of $161.7 million due to a decrease in the price applied to unbilled sales; and
    • the accrual of $26.8 million in the transition cost account at Entergy Arkansas.

Partially offsetting these decreases in operating income were the following:

    • a decrease in other operation and maintenance expenses of $95.6 million, which is explained below;
    • a decrease in depreciation and amortization expense at System Energy of $74.5 million primarily resulting from the final resolution of its 1995 rate filing; and
    • a decrease in decommissioning expense at System Energy of $32.4 million resulting from the final resolution of the FERC order addressing the 1995 rate increase filing.

                The decrease in other operation and maintenance expenses in 2001 was primarily due to:

    • a decrease in property damage expenses of $49.7 million primarily due to a reversal of $24.5 million in June 2001, upon recommendation from the APSC, of ice storm costs previously charged to expense in December 2000. The effect of the reversal of the ice storm costs on net income was largely offset by the adjustment to the transition cost account as a result of the 2000 earnings review in 2001;
    • decreases in expenses of $9.3 million at Entergy Arkansas due to decreased transition to competition support costs and $11.0 million at Entergy Louisiana due to decreased legal fees; and
    • decreases of $10.7 million and $14.6 million at Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Mississippi, respectively, because of maintenance and planned maintenance outages at certain fossil plants in 2000.

                Operating revenues include an increase in fuel cost recovery revenue of $462.7 million related to electric sales primarily due to increased fuel recovery factors at Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States in the Texas jurisdiction, and Entergy Mississippi, combined with higher fuel and purchased power costs recovered through fuel recovery mechanisms at Entergy Gulf States in the Louisiana jurisdiction and Entergy New Orleans due to the increased market prices of natural gas and purchased power early in 2001. As such, this revenue increase is offset by increased fuel and purchased power expenses.

Other Impacts on Results of Operations

2002 Compared to 2001

                Results for the year ended December 31, 2002 for U.S. Utility were also affected by the following:

    • a decrease in interest income of $56.5 million, which is explained below;
    • an increase in "miscellaneous - net" in other income of $26.7 million due to the cessation of amortization of goodwill in January 2002 upon implementation of SFAS 142 and settlement of liability insurance coverage at Entergy Gulf States; and
    • a decrease in interest charges of $111.0 million, which is explained below.

                The decrease in interest income in 2002 was primarily due to:

    • interest recognized in 2001 on Grand Gulf 1's decommissioning trust funds resulting from the final order addressing System Energy's rate proceeding;
    • interest recognized in 2001 at Entergy Mississippi and Entergy New Orleans on the deferred System Energy costs that were not being recovered through rates; and
    • lower interest earned on declining deferred fuel balances.

                The decrease in interest charges in 2002 is primarily due to:

    • a decrease of $31.9 million in interest on long-term debt primarily due to the retirement of long-term debt in late 2001 and early 2002; and
    • a decrease of $76.0 million in other interest expense primarily due to interest recorded on System Energy's reserve for rate refund in 2001. The refund was made in December 2001.

2001 Compared to 2000

                Results for the year ended December 31, 2001 for U.S. Utility were also affected by an increase in interest charges of $61.5 million primarily due to:

    • the final FERC order addressing the 1995 System Energy rate filing;
    • debt issued at Entergy Arkansas in July 2001, at Entergy Gulf States in June 2000 and August 2001, at Entergy Mississippi in January 2001, and at Entergy New Orleans in July 2000 and February 2001; and
    • borrowings under credit facilities during 2001, primarily at Entergy Arkansas.

Non-Utility Nuclear

                The increase in earnings in 2002 for Non-Utility Nuclear from $128 million to $201 million was primarily due to the operation of Indian Point 2 and Vermont Yankee, which were purchased in September 2001 and July 2002, respectively.

                The increase in earnings in 2001 for Non-Utility Nuclear from $49 million to $128 million was primarily due to the operation of FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 for a full year, as each was purchased in November 2000, and the operation of Indian Point 2, which was purchased in September 2001.

                Following are key performance measures for Non-Utility Nuclear:

 2002 

 2001 

 2000 

Net MW in operation at December 31

3,955

3,445

2,475

Generation in GWh for the year

29,953

22,614

7,171

Capacity factor for the year

93%

93%

94%

2002 Compared to 2001

                The following fluctuations in the results of operations for Non-Utility Nuclear in 2002 were primarily caused by the acquisitions of Indian Point 2 and Vermont Yankee (except as otherwise noted):

    • operating revenues increased $411.0 million to $1.2 billion;
    • other operation and maintenance expenses increased $201.8 million to $596.3 million;
    • depreciation and amortization expenses increased $25.1 million to $42.8 million;
    • fuel expenses increased $29.4 million to $105.2 million;
    • nuclear refueling outage expenses increased $23.9 million to $46.8 million, which was due primarily to a full year of amortization of Pilgrim and Indian Point 3 expenses;
    • interest income increased $17.2 million to $71.3 million; and
    • interest expense increased $12.1 million to $93.3 million.

2001 Compared to 2000

                The following fluctuations in the results of operations for Non-Utility Nuclear in 2001 were primarily caused by the acquisition of FitzPatrick, Indian Point 3, and Indian Point 2:

    • operating revenues increased $491.1 million to $789.2 million;
    • other operation and maintenance expenses increased $217.6 million to $394.5 million;
    • interest expense, primarily related to debt incurred to purchase the plants, increased $47.9 million to $81.1 million;
    • fuel expenses increased $51.0 million to $75.8 million; and
    • taxes other than income taxes increased $30.9 million to $40.1 million.

Energy Commodity Services

                The decrease in earnings for Energy Commodity Services in 2002 from $106 million to a $146 million loss was primarily due to the impairment charges that are discussed below.

                The increase in earnings for Energy Commodity Services in 2001 from $55 million to $106 million was primarily due to the strong performance of the trading and gas pipeline businesses of Entergy-Koch.

2002 Compared to 2001

                The decrease in earnings for Energy Commodity Services in 2002 was primarily due to the charges to reflect the effect of Entergy's decision to discontinue additional greenfield power plant development and to reflect asset impairments resulting from the deteriorating economics of wholesale power markets principally in the United States and the United Kingdom. Entergy recorded net charges of $428.5 million ($238.3 million net of tax) to operating expenses. The net charges consist of the following:

    • The power development business obtained contracts in October 1999 to acquire 36 turbines from General Electric. Entergy's rights and obligations under the contracts for 22 of the turbines were sold to an independent special-purpose entity in May 2001. $178.0 million of the charges, including an offsetting net of tax benefit of $18.5 million related to the subsequent sale of four turbines to a third party, is a provision for the net costs resulting from cancellation or sale of the turbines subject to purchase commitments with the special-purpose entity;
    • $204.4 million of the charges results from the write-off of Entergy Power Development Corporation's equity investment in the Damhead Creek project and the impairment of the values of its Warren Power power plant and its Crete and RS Cogen projects. This portion of the charges reflects Entergy's estimate of the effects of reduced spark spreads in the United States and the United Kingdom. Damhead Creek was sold in December 2002, resulting in an after-tax gain of $31.4 million;
    • $39.1 million of the charges relates to the restructuring of the non-nuclear wholesale assets business, which is comprised of $22.5 million of impairments of administrative fixed assets, $10.7 million of estimated sublease losses, and $5.9 million of employee-related costs;
    • $32.7 million of the charges results from the write-off of capitalized project development costs for projects that will not be completed; and
    • a gain of $25.7 million ($15.9 million net of tax) realized on the sale in August 2002 of an interest in projects under development in Spain.

                Also, in the first quarter of 2002, Energy Commodity Services sold its interests in projects in Argentina, Chile, and Peru for net proceeds of $135.5 million. After impairment provisions recorded for these Latin American interests in 2001, the net loss realized on the sale in 2002 is insignificant.

                Revenues and fuel and purchased power expenses decreased for Energy Commodity Services by $1,075.8 million and $876.9 million, respectively, in 2002 primarily due to:

    • a decrease of $542.9 million in revenues and $539.6 million in fuel and purchased power expenses resulting from the sale of Highland Energy in the fourth quarter of 2001;
    • a decrease of $161.7 million in revenues resulting from the sale of the Saltend plant in August 2001; and
    • a decrease of $139.1 million in revenues and $133.5 million in purchased power expenses due to the contribution of substantially all of Entergy's power marketing and trading business to Entergy-Koch in February 2001. Earnings from Entergy-Koch are reported as equity in earnings of unconsolidated equity affiliates in the financial statements. The net income effect of the lower revenues was more than offset by the income from Entergy's investment in Entergy-Koch. The income from Entergy's investment in Entergy-Koch was $31.9 million higher in 2002 primarily as a result of earnings at Entergy-Koch Trading (EKT) and higher earnings at Gulf South Pipeline due to more favorable transportation contract pricing. Although the gain/loss days ratio reported below declined in 2002, EKT made relatively more money on the gain days than the loss days, and thus had an increase in earnings for the year.

Following are key performance measures for Entergy-Koch's operations for 2002 and 2001:

2002

2001

Entergy-Koch Trading

   Gas volatility

61%

72%

   Electricity volatility

48%

78%

   Gas marketed (BCF/D) (1)

5.8

3.0

   Electricity marketed (GWh) (1)

408,038

180,893

   Gain/loss days

1.8

2.8

Gulf South Pipeline

   Throughput (BCF/D)

2.40

2.45

   Production cost ($/MMBtu)

$0.094

$0.093

    1. Previously reported volumes, which included only U.S. trading, have been adjusted to reflect both U.S. and Europe volumes traded.

Entergy accounts for its 50% share in Entergy-Koch under the equity method of accounting. Certain terms of the partnership arrangement allocate income from various sources, and the taxes on that income, on a significantly disproportionate basis through 2003. Losses and distributions from operations are allocated to the partners equally. Substantially all of Entergy-Koch's profits were allocated to Entergy in 2002. Effective January 1, 2004, a revaluation of Entergy-Koch's assets for legal capital account purposes will occur, and future profit allocations will change after the revaluation. The profit allocations other than for weather trading and international trading are expected to become equal, unless special allocations are necessary to equalize the partners' legal capital accounts. Profit allocations for weather trading and international trading remain disproportionate to the ownership interests. Earnings allocated under the terms of the partnership agreement constitute equity, not subject to reallocation, for the partners.

2001 Compared to 2000

                The increase in earnings for Energy Commodity Services in 2001 was primarily due to:

    • the gain on the sale of the Saltend plant discussed below;
    • the favorable results from Entergy-Koch discussed below;
    • the $33.5 million ($23.5 million net of tax) cumulative effect of an accounting change marking to market the Damhead Creek gas contract;
    • liquidated damages of $13.9 million ($9.7 million net of tax) received in 2001 from the Damhead Creek construction contractor as compensation for lost operating margin from the plant due to construction delays; and
    • a $12.2 million ($7.9 million net of tax) gain on the sale of a permitted site in Desoto County, Florida, in May 2001.

                Partially offsetting the increase in earnings for Energy Commodity Services in 2001 was the following:

    • $60.1 million ($49.9 million net of tax) of losses or asset impairments recorded on Latin American investments and other development projects;
    • a $9.8 million ($6.4 million net of tax) loss recorded primarily because of the pending cancellation of four gas turbines scheduled for delivery in 2004;
    • liquidated damages of $55.1 million ($38.6 million net of tax) received in 2000 from the Saltend contractor as compensation for lost operating margin from the plant due to construction delays;
    • a $19.7 million ($12.8 million net of tax) gain on the sale of the Freestone project located in Fairfield, Texas, in June 2000;
    • increased depreciation expense of $23.6 million in 2001, primarily due to the commencement of the commercial operation of the Saltend and Damhead Creek plants; and
    • increased interest expense of $78.7 million in 2001, primarily because of the commencement of commercial operation of the Saltend and Damhead Creek plants.

                Revenues decreased for Energy Commodity Services by $983.3 million in 2001, primarily due to the contribution of substantially all of Entergy's power marketing and trading business to Entergy-Koch in 2001. As a result, in 2001, revenues from this activity were lower by $1,957.0 million compared to 2000 revenue for Entergy's power marketing and trading segment, and purchased power expenses were lower by $1,830.0 million. The net income effect in 2001 of the lower revenue was more than offset by the equity in earnings from Entergy's interest in Entergy-Koch. Entergy's earnings from this activity increased in 2001 as a result of increased electricity and gas trading volumes as well as a broader range of commodity sources and options provided to customers by the joint venture than provided previously by Entergy.

                The decrease in revenues in 2001 was partially offset by an increase in operating revenues primarily due to an increase of $409.8 million from Highland Energy and an increase of $450.1 million from the Saltend and Damhead Creek plants. Highland Energy was acquired in June 2000, and the Saltend and Damhead Creek plants began commercial operation in late November 2000 and early 2001, respectively. Highland Energy was sold in the fourth quarter of 2001. The increase in revenues from Highland Energy, Damhead Creek, and Saltend is largely offset by increased fuel and purchased power expenses of $644.1 million and increased other operation and maintenance expenses of $94.6 million.

                Entergy sold the Saltend plant in August 2001 and revenues include the $88.1 million ($57.2 million net of tax) gain on the sale.

Parent & Other

                The loss from Parent & Other decreased in 2002 from $58 million to $39 million primarily due to:

    • a decrease in income tax expense of $12.1 million resulting from the allocation of intercompany tax benefits; and
    • a decrease in interest charges of $6.0 million.

                The loss from Parent & Other increased in 2001 from $11 million to $58 million primarily due to:

    • a decrease in interest income of $41.2 million;
    • $21.8 million ($14.1 million net of tax) of merger-related expenses incurred by Entergy Corporation in the first quarter of 2001; and
    • an increase in interest charges of $19.5 million.

The increased loss in 2001 was partially offset by the write-down in 2000 of investments in Latin American projects to their estimated fair values.

Income Taxes

                The effective income tax rates for 2002, 2001, and 2000 were 32.1%, 38.3%, and 40.3%, respectively. See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for a reconciliation of the federal statutory rate of 35.0% to the effective income tax rates.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

                This section discusses Entergy's capital structure, capital spending plans and other uses of capital, sources of capital, and the cash flow activity presented in the cash flow statement.

Capital Structure

                Entergy's capitalization is balanced between equity and debt, as shown in the following table. The reduction in the percentage for 2002 is primarily the result of the sale of Damhead Creek in December 2002. Debt outstanding on the Damhead Creek facility was $458 million as of December 31, 2001.

2002

2001

2000

Net debt to net capital at the end of the year

46.3%

49.7%

49.8%

Net debt consists of gross debt less cash and cash equivalents. Gross debt consists of notes payable, capital lease obligations, and long-term debt, including the currently maturing portion. Net capital consists of net debt, common shareholders' equity, and preferred stock and securities.

                Long-term debt, including the currently maturing portion, makes up over 90% of Entergy's total debt outstanding. Following are Entergy's long-term debt principal maturities as of December 31, 2002 by operating segment. These figures include principal payments on the Entergy Louisiana and System Energy sale-leaseback transactions, which are included in long-term debt on the balance sheet.

Long-term debt maturities (in millions)

2003

2004

2005

2006-2007

after 2007

U. S. Utility

$1,111

$855

$470

$466

$3,751

Non-Utility Nuclear

$87

$91

$95

$205

$205

Energy Commodity Services

$79

-

-

-

-

Parent and Other

-

$595

-

-

$267

                In the fourth quarter of 2002, the U.S. Utility issued $640 million of debt with maturities ranging from 2007 to 2032. Approximately $71 million of the proceeds of the debt issued in the fourth quarter were used to retire, in 2002, debt that was scheduled to mature in 2003, and the remainder will be used to meet certain 2003 maturities as they occur. Entergy Mississippi issued an additional $100 million of debt in January 2003 that matures in 2013. The proceeds will be used to repay, prior to maturity, debt of Entergy Mississippi that is scheduled to mature in 2003 and 2004. Note 7 to the consolidated financial statements provides more detail concerning long-term debt.

                The Energy Commodity Services debt was paid at maturity in January 2003 using money drawn on Entergy Corporation's 364-day credit facility.

                Capital lease obligations, including nuclear fuel leases, are a minimal part of Entergy's overall capital structure, and are discussed further in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements. Following are Entergy's payment obligations under those leases:

2003

2004

2005

2006-2007

after 2007

Capital lease payments, including nuclear fuel leases (in millions)


$160


$137


$10


$9


$5

                Notes payable, which include borrowings outstanding on credit facilities with original maturities of less than one year, were less than $1 million as of December 31, 2002. Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, and Entergy Mississippi each have 364-day credit facilities available as follows:


Company

 


Expiration Date

 

Amount of Facility

 

Amount Drawn as of Dec. 31, 2002

Entergy Corporation

 

May 2003

 

$1.450 billion

 

$535 million

Entergy Arkansas

 

May 2003

 

$63 million

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

May 2003

 

$15 million

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2003

 

$25 million

 

-

Although the Entergy Corporation credit line expires in May 2003, Entergy has the discretionary option to extend the period to repay the amount then outstanding for an additional 364-day term. Because of this option, which Entergy intends to exercise if it does not renew the credit line or obtain an alternative source of financing, the debt outstanding under the credit line is reflected in long-term debt on the balance sheet. The credit line is reflected as notes payable at December 31, 2001.

Operating Lease Obligations and Guarantees of Unconsolidated Obligations

                In addition to the obligations listed above that are reflected on the balance sheet, Entergy has a minimal amount of operating leases and guarantees in support of unconsolidated obligations that are not reflected as liabilities on the balance sheet. These items are not on the balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

                Following are Entergy's payment obligations on noncancelable operating leases with a term over one year as of December 31, 2002:

2003

2004

2005

2006-2007

after 2007

Operating lease payments (in millions)

$98

$91

$73

$98

$140

The operating leases are discussed more thoroughly in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

                Entergy's guarantees of unconsolidated obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2002 total a maximum amount of $267.5 million. In August 2001, EntergyShaw entered into a turnkey construction agreement with an Entergy subsidiary, Entergy Power Ventures, L.P. (EPV), and with Northeast Texas Electric Cooperative, Inc. (NTEC), providing for the construction by EntergyShaw of a 550 MW electric generating station to be located in Harrison County, Texas. Entergy has guaranteed the obligations of EntergyShaw to construct the plant, which will be 70% owned by EPV. Entergy's maximum liability on the guarantee is $232.5 million. In addition, one of the contracts transferred to Entergy-Koch by Entergy's power marketing and trading business is backed by an Entergy Corporation guarantee authorized in the amount of $35 million.

Capital Funds Agreement

                Pursuant to an agreement with certain creditors, Entergy Corporation has agreed to supply System Energy with sufficient capital to:

    • maintain System Energy's equity capital at a minimum of 35% of its total capitalization (excluding short-term debt);
    • permit the continued commercial operation of Grand Gulf 1;
    • pay in full all System Energy indebtedness for borrowed money when due; and
    • enable System Energy to make payments on specific System Energy debt, under supplements to the agreement assigning System Energy's rights in the agreement as security for the specific debt.

Capital Expenditure Plans and Other Uses of Capital

                Following are the amounts of Entergy's planned construction and other capital investments by operating segment for 2003 through 2005 (in millions):

Planned construction and capital investment

2003

2004

2005

U.S. Utility

$924

$915

$965

Non-Utility Nuclear

$201

$142

$109

Energy Commodity Services

$24

$76

$3

Other

$7

$7

$9

                The capital plan for the U.S. Utility primarily consists of spending for maintenance capital, supporting continued reliability improvements, and customer growth. Also included is the replacement of the ANO 1 steam generator and reactor vessel closure head. Entergy estimates the cost of the fabrication and replacement to be approximately $235 million, of which approximately $135 million will be incurred through 2004. Entergy expects the replacement to occur during a planned refueling outage in 2005. Entergy Arkansas filed in January 2003 a request for a declaratory order by the APSC that the investment in the replacement is in the public interest analogous to the order received in 1998 prior to the replacement of the steam generator for ANO 2. Receipt of an order relating to the replacement at ANO 1 would provide additional support for the inclusion of these costs in a future general rate case; however, management cannot predict the outcome of either the request for a declaratory order or a general rate proceeding.

                The capital plan for Non-Utility Nuclear primarily consists of spending for maintenance capital. Entergy also includes some spending for power uprate projects in the estimate.

                The capital plan for Energy Commodity Services primarily consists of Entergy's obligation to make a $73 million cash contribution to Entergy-Koch in January 2004. The completion of the Harrison County project is also included in the plan. The plant has been under construction since 2001. Entergy will own approximately 385 MW once construction is completed and operation has begun, which Entergy expects to occur in June 2003.

                The planned construction and capital investments do not include potential investments in new businesses or assets. The estimated capital expenditures are subject to periodic review and modification and may vary based on the ongoing effects of business restructuring, regulatory constraints, business opportunities, market volatility, economic trends, and the ability to access capital.

Dividends and Stock Repurchases

                Declarations of dividends on Entergy's common stock are made at the discretion of the Board. Among other things, the Board evaluates the level of Entergy's common stock dividends based upon Entergy's earnings, financial strength, and future investment opportunities. At its October 2002 meeting, the Board increased Entergy's quarterly dividend per share by 6%, to $0.35. In 2002, Entergy paid $299 million in cash dividends on its common stock.

                In accordance with Entergy's stock option plans, Entergy periodically grants stock options to its employees, which may be exercised to obtain shares of Entergy's common stock. In order to reduce the potential increase in outstanding common shares created by the exercise of stock options, Entergy plans to purchase up to 10 million shares of its common stock through mid-2004 on a discretionary basis through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions. Entergy repurchased 2,885,000 shares of common stock for a total purchase price of $118.5 million in 2002.

System Energy Letters of Credit

                System Energy had three-year letters of credit in place that were scheduled to expire in March 2003 securing certain of its obligations related to the sales/leaseback of a portion of Grand Gulf 1. System Energy replaced the letters of credit with new three-year letters of credit totaling approximately $192 million that are backed by cash collateral. System Energy used approximately $192 million in March 2003 to provide this cash collateral.

PUHCA Restrictions on Uses of Capital

                Entergy's ability to invest in domestic and foreign generation businesses is subject to the SEC's regulations under PUHCA. As authorized by the SEC, Entergy is allowed to invest an amount equal to 100% of its average consolidated retained earnings in domestic and foreign generation businesses. As of December 31, 2002, Entergy's investments subject to this rule totaled $1.97 billion constituting 52.5% of Entergy's average consolidated retained earnings.

                Entergy's ability to guarantee obligations of Entergy's non-utility subsidiaries is also limited by SEC regulations under PUHCA. In August 2000, the SEC issued an order, effective through December 31, 2005, that allows Entergy to issue up to $2 billion of guarantees for the benefit of its non-utility companies.

                Under PUHCA, the SEC imposes a limit equal to 15% of consolidated capitalization on the amount that may be invested in "energy-related" businesses without specific SEC approval. Entergy has made investments in energy-related businesses, including power marketing and trading. Entergy's available capacity to make additional investments at December 31, 2002 was approximately $1.8 billion.

Sources of Capital

                Entergy's sources to meet its capital requirements and to fund potential investments include:

    • internally generated funds, which have been the source of the majority of Entergy's capital;
    • cash on hand ($1.3 billion as of December 31, 2002);
    • securities issuances;
    • bank financing under new or existing facilities; and
    • sales of assets.

                The majority of Entergy's internally generated funds come from the domestic utility companies and System Energy. Circumstances such as weather patterns, price fluctuations, and unanticipated expenses, including unscheduled plant outages, could affect the level of internally generated funds in the future. In the following section Entergy's cash flow activity for the previous three years is discussed.

                Provisions within the Articles of Incorporation or pertinent indentures and various other agreements relating to the long-term debt and preferred stock of certain of Entergy Corporation's subsidiaries restrict the payment of cash dividends or other distributions on their common and preferred stock. As of December 31, 2002, Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi had restricted retained earnings unavailable for distribution to Entergy Corporation of $296.1 million and $36.2 million, respectively. Additionally, PUHCA prohibits Entergy Corporation's subsidiaries from making loans or advances to Entergy Corporation.

                Short-term borrowings by the domestic utility companies and System Energy, including borrowings under the intra-company money pool, are limited to amounts authorized by the SEC. Under the SEC order authorizing the short-term borrowing limits, the domestic utility companies and System Energy cannot incur new short-term indebtedness if the issuer's common equity would comprise less than 30% of its capital. In addition, this order restricts Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, or System Energy from issuing long-term debt unless that debt will be rated as investment grade. See Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements for further discussion of Entergy's short-term borrowing limits.

Cash Flow Activity

                As shown in Entergy's Statements of Cash Flows, cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000 were as follows:

2002

2001

2000

(In Millions)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

$ 752 

$ 1,382 

$ 1,214 

Cash flow provided by (used in):

   Operating activities

2,181 

2,216 

1,968 

   Investing activities

(1,388)

(2,224)

(1,814)

   Financing activities

(213)

(622)

20 

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

          3 

          - 

        (6)

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

      583 

    (630)

     168 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$ 1,335 

$ 752 

$ 1,382 

Operating Cash Flow Activity

2002 Compared to 2001

                Entergy's cash flow provided by operating activities decreased slightly in 2002 primarily due to:

    • The U.S. Utility provided $2,341 million in operating cash flow, an increase of $693 million compared to 2001. The increase primarily resulted from the tax accounting election made by Entergy Louisiana that is discussed below.
    • The parent company used $439 million in operating cash flow, compared to providing $407 million in 2001. The decrease primarily resulted from the payment that Entergy Corporation made to Entergy Louisiana pursuant to the tax accounting election made by Entergy Louisiana that is discussed below.
    • The Non-Utility Nuclear business provided $282 million in operating cash flow, an increase of $18 million compared to 2001.
    • Entergy's investment in Entergy-Koch used $47 million in operating cash flow in 2002, a decrease of $8 million compared to 2001. The use of cash primarily relates to tax payments on Entergy's share of the partnership income. Entergy did not receive a dividend from Entergy-Koch in 2002 or in 2001 because the joint venture is retaining capital for business opportunities.
    • The non-nuclear wholesale asset business provided $43 million in operating cash flow in 2002, compared to using $73 million in 2001.

2001 Compared to 2000

                Entergy's consolidated net cash flow provided by operating activities increased in 2001 primarily due to:

    • An increase of $432 million in cash provided by the parent company primarily due to the tax accounting election made by Entergy Louisiana that is discussed below and the receipt of a federal tax refund associated primarily with deductions for 2000 ice storm costs, partially offset by increased interest expense and the payment of FPL merger-related costs.
    • An increase of $171 million in cash provided by the Non-Utility Nuclear business, primarily from the operation of the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 plants purchased in the fourth quarter of 2000 and the Indian Point 2 plant purchased in the third quarter of 2001.

                These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $129 million in cash provided by the U.S. Utility and net cash used of $128 million in 2001 compared to net cash provided of $64.3 million in 2000 by the Energy Commodity Services segment. The Energy Commodity Services segment includes the non-nuclear wholesale assets business and the Entergy-Koch joint venture. In 2001, the non-nuclear wholesale assets business used $73 million of net cash in operating activities; in 2000, the non-nuclear wholesale assets business provided $37 million of operating cash flow. This fluctuation is primarily due to a net loss, excluding the gain on the sale of the Saltend plant, generated in 2001 compared with net income generated in 2000. Entergy's investment in Entergy-Koch used $55 million of net cash in operating activities in 2001 compared with power marketing and trading providing $27 million of operating cash flow in 2000. This fluctuation is primarily because, although income from this activity was higher in 2001, Entergy did not receive dividends from Entergy-Koch, as the joint venture retained capital for business opportunities.

Entergy Louisiana Tax Election

                In 2001 Entergy Louisiana changed its method of accounting for tax purposes related to the contract to purchase power from the Vidalia project (the contract is discussed in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements). The new tax accounting method has provided a cumulative cash flow benefit of approximately $867 million through 2002, which is expected to reverse in the years 2003 through 2031. The election did not reduce book income tax expense. The timing of the reversal of this benefit depends on several variables, including the price of power. Approximately half of the consolidated cash flow benefit of the election occurred in 2001 and the remainder occurred in 2002. In accordance with Entergy's intercompany tax allocation agreement, the cash flow benefit for Entergy Louisiana occurred in the fourth quarter of 2002.

                In a September 2002 settlement of an LPSC proceeding that concerned the Vidalia contract, the LPSC approved Entergy Louisiana's proposed treatment of the regulatory impact of the tax accounting election. In general, the settlement permits Entergy Louisiana to keep a portion of the tax benefit in exchange for bearing the risk associated with sustaining the tax treatment. The LPSC settlement divided the term of the Vidalia contract into two segments: 2002-12 and 2013-31. During the first eight years of the 2002-12 segment, Entergy Louisiana agreed to credit rates by flowing through its fuel adjustment calculation $11 million each year, beginning monthly in October 2002. Entergy Louisiana must credit rates in this way and by this amount even if Entergy Louisiana is unable to sustain the tax deduction. Entergy Louisiana also must credit rates by $11 million each year for an additional two years unless either the tax accounting method elected is retroactively repealed or the Internal Revenue Service denies the entire deduction related to the tax accounting method. Entergy Louisiana agreed to credit ratepayers additional amounts unless the tax accounting election is not sustained if it is challenged. During 2013-2031, Entergy Louisiana and its ratepayers would share the remaining benefits of this tax accounting election.

Investing Activities

2002 Compared to 2001

                Net cash used in investing activities decreased by $836 million in 2002 primarily due to the following:

    • Entergy used $420 million less cash in its 2002 nuclear power plant purchase than it used in its 2001 purchase. In July 2002, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business purchased the 510 MW Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant for $180 million in cash. In September 2001, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business purchased the 970 MW Indian Point 2 nuclear power plant for $600 million in cash. The liabilities to decommission both plants, as well as related decommissioning trust funds, were also transferred to Entergy. These decommissioning trust transfers are reflected in the non-cash activity section of the cash flow statements.
    • Entergy made cash contributions of approximately $414 million in 2001 in connection with the formation of Entergy-Koch.
    • Entergy did not make an investment in 2002 like the $272 million cash investment it made in 2001 to provide collateral for a line of credit that secures the installment obligations owed to NYPA for the acquisition of the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 nuclear power plants. As of December 31, 2002, $232 million remained invested as collateral for the line of credit.
    • Entergy used $150 million to invest in temporary investments with a maturity of greater than 90 days in 2001 and those investments matured in 2002. This results in a net decrease of $300 million in cash used in 2002.

                Partially offsetting the decrease in net cash used in investing activities were the following:

    • Entergy received less cash from sales of businesses in 2002 than it received in 2001. The sale of the Saltend plant in August 2001 provided approximately $810 million in cash, while the sale of various projects in 2002 provided approximately $215 million in cash.
    • Entergy spent approximately $150 million more on construction in 2002 than in 2001, primarily for construction of the Harrison County project.

2001 Compared to 2000

                Net cash used in investing activities increased by $410 million in 2001 primarily due to:

    • Entergy used $550 million more cash in its 2001 nuclear power plant purchase than it used in its 2000 nuclear power plant purchase. In September 2001, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business purchased the 970 MW Indian Point 2 nuclear power plant for $600 million in cash. In 2000, Entergy paid $50 million cash and issued notes payable of approximately $750 million to NYPA to purchase the 980 MW Indian Point 3 and 825 MW FitzPatrick nuclear power plants.
    • Entergy made cash contributions of approximately $414 million in connection with the formation of Entergy-Koch in 2001.
    • Entergy made a $272 million cash investment in 2001 to provide collateral for a line of credit that secures the installment obligations it owes to NYPA for the acquisition of the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 nuclear power plants.
    • Entergy used $150 million to invest in temporary investments with a maturity of greater than 90 days in 2001.

                Partially offsetting the increase in net cash used in investing activities were the following:

    • Entergy received approximately $810 million in cash from the sale of the Saltend plant in August 2001.
    • Entergy spent less on construction due to completion of the Saltend and Damhead Creek plants.
    • The recovery of deferred fuel costs incurred at certain of the domestic utility companies increased in 2001. Entergy Arkansas, the Texas portion of Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Mississippi for 2000 only, have treated these costs as regulatory investments because these companies are allowed by their regulatory jurisdictions to recover the accumulated fuel cost regulatory asset over longer than a twelve-month period. Entergy Mississippi's fuel recovery mechanism changed effective January 2001, and Entergy Mississippi's fuel cost under-recoveries incurred after that date are being recovered over less than a twelve-month period. The companies will recover carrying charges on the under-recovered balances.

Financing Activities

2002 Compared to 2001

                Financing activities used $409 million less cash in 2002 than in 2001 primarily due to:

    • Entergy increased the net borrowings under Entergy Corporation's credit facilities by $295 million in 2002.
    • Entergy Corporation issued $267 million of long-term notes in 2002.
    • The non-nuclear wholesale assets business used $196 million less cash in 2002 to retire debt than it did in 2001. This primarily resulted from two transactions. The non-nuclear wholesale assets business retired $268 million of long-term debt in April 2002 related to the acquisition of the rights to purchase turbines from a special-purpose financing entity. In 2001 the non-nuclear wholesale assets business retired the $555 million outstanding on the Saltend credit facility when the plant was sold.
    • Issuances of long-term debt net of retirements by the U.S. Utility segment provided $113 million less cash in 2002 than in 2001. Net issuances were $76 million in 2002 compared to $189 million in 2001.
    • Entergy repurchased $81.6 million more of its common stock in 2002 than in 2001.

In a non-cash transaction in 2002, long-term debt was reduced by $488 million in the sale of the Damhead Creek plant when the purchaser assumed the Damhead Creek debt along with the acquisition of the plant.

2001 Compared to 2000

                Financing activities used cash in 2001 compared to providing a small amount of cash in 2000 primarily due to:

    • The $555 million retirement of the Saltend credit facility in August 2001 when the plant was sold.
    • A higher amount of net issuances of debt by the U.S. Utility in 2000 than in 2001.
    • No additional borrowings in 2001 under the Saltend and Damhead Creek credit facilities due to the completion of the construction of the plants in 2000. In 2000, borrowings under the Damhead Creek credit facility increased by approximately $164 million to finance construction of the plant
    • A reduction in the amount of debt outstanding on the Entergy Corporation credit facility.

Partially offsetting the increase in cash used in 2001 were the following:

    • Decreased repurchases of Entergy's common stock in 2001.
    • The redemption of Entergy Gulf States' preference stock in 2000.

Significant Factors and Known Trends

Rate Regulation and Fuel-Cost Recovery

                The rates that the domestic utility companies and System Energy charge for their services are an important item influencing Entergy's financial position, results of operations, and liquidity. These companies are closely regulated and the rates charged to their customers are determined in regulatory proceedings, except for a portion of Entergy Gulf States' operations. Governmental agencies, including the APSC, the City Council, the LPSC, the MPSC, the PUCT, and FERC, are primarily responsible for approval of the rates charged to customers. The status of material retail rate proceedings are summarized below and described in more detail in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

Company

Authorized
ROE

Pending Proceedings/Events

Entergy Arkansas

11.0%

No cases are pending. Transition cost account mechanism expired on December 31, 2001.

Entergy Gulf
   States-Texas

10.95%

Base rates have been frozen since settlement order issued in June 1999. Freeze will likely extend to the start of retail open access, which is currently not expected to occur until at least the first quarter of 2004.

Entergy Gulf
  States-Louisiana

11.1%

The LPSC approved a settlement in December 2002 resolving the 4th - 8th post-merger earnings reviews resulting in a $22.1 million prospective rate reduction effective January 2003 and a refund of $16.3 million. Also, the 9th earnings analysis (2002), the last required post-merger earnings analysis, and prospective revenue study are currently pending before the LPSC with hearings set for October 2003. In conjunction with the LPSC staff, Entergy Gulf States is currently pursuing a formula rate plan proposal.

Entergy Louisiana

9.7%-

11.3%(1)

The LPSC approved a settlement in July 2002 covering the 5th and 6th annual rate reviews and future rate regulation that included a small rate reduction and reaffirmed the ROE midpoint of 10.5%. Entergy Louisiana's current rates will remain in effect until changed pursuant to a new formula rate plan filing or revenue analysis to be filed by June 30, 2003. In conjunction with the LPSC staff, Entergy Louisiana is currently pursuing a formula rate plan proposal.

Entergy Mississippi

10.64%-

12.86%(2)

An annual formula rate plan is in place. In December 2002, the MPSC approved a joint stipulation that resulted in a $48.2 million rate increase and an ROE midpoint of 11.75%. Entergy Mississippi will make its next formula rate plan filing in March 2004.

Entergy New
 
Orleans

11.4%

Rate case filed with the City Council in May 2002 requesting a rate increase of $44 million. An agreement in principle reached in March 2003 with the Advisors to the City Council would result in a $30 million base rate increase, if approved by the City Council.  A decision is expected in mid-2003

System Energy

10.94%

ROE approved by July 2001 FERC order. No cases pending before FERC.

  1. Entergy Louisiana's formula rate plan expired with the 2001 test year. Under the expired formula, if Entergy Louisiana earned outside of the bandwidth range, rates would be adjusted on a prospective basis. If earnings were above the bandwidth range, rates would be reduced by 60% of the overage, and if below, increased by 60% of the shortfall.
  2. If Entergy Mississippi earns outside of the bandwidth range, rates will be adjusted on a prospective basis. If earnings are above the bandwidth range, rates are reduced by 50% of the overage, and if below, increased by 50% of the shortfall. The range presented is not adjusted for performance measures, under which the ROE midpoint can increase or decrease by as much as 1%.

                In addition to the regulatory scrutiny connected with base rate proceedings, the domestic utility companies' fuel costs recovered from customers are subject to regulatory scrutiny. The domestic utility companies' significant fuel cost proceedings are described in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

                The domestic utility companies have historically engaged in the coordinated planning, construction, and operation of generating and transmission facilities under the terms of an agreement called the System Agreement that has been approved by FERC. Litigation involving the System Agreement has been initiated by the LPSC and City Council. These proceedings include challenges to the allocation of costs as defined by the System Agreement, raise questions of imprudence by the domestic utility companies in their execution of the System Agreement, and seek support for local regulatory authority over System Agreement issues. Entergy believes that any changes in the allocation of costs would not have a material effect on Entergy's financial condition because any changes should result in similar rate changes for retail customers. Entergy further believes that state and local regulators are pre-empted by federal law from reviewing and deciding System Agreement issues for themselves. An unrelated case currently pending between the LPSC and Entergy Louisiana raises the question whether a state regulator is pre-empted by federal law from reviewing and interpreting FERC rate schedules that are part of the System Agreement, and from subsequently enforcing that interpretation. The LPSC interpreted a System Agreement rate schedule in the unrelated case, and then sought to enforce its interpretation. The Louisiana Supreme Court affirmed. In January 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court granted Entergy Louisiana's request for a writ of certiorari for purposes of reviewing the decision of the LPSC and the Louisiana Supreme Court. Entergy cannot predict the timing or outcome of these proceedings.

Market and Credit Risks

                Market risk is the risk of changes in the value of commodity and financial instruments, or in future operating results or cash flows, in response to changing market conditions. Entergy is exposed to the following significant market risks:

    • The commodity price risk associated with Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear and Energy Commodity Services segments.
    • The foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with certain of Entergy's contractual obligations.
    • The interest rate and equity price risk associated with Entergy's investments in decommissioning trust funds.

Entergy is also exposed to credit risk. Credit risk is the risk of loss from nonperformance by suppliers, customers, or financial counterparties to a contract or agreement. Where it is a significant consideration, counterparty credit risk is addressed in the discussions that follow.

Commodity Price Risk

Power Generation

                The sale of electricity from the power generation plants owned by Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business and Energy Commodity Services, unless otherwise contracted, is subject to the fluctuation of market power prices. Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business has entered into power purchase agreements (PPAs) and other contracts to sell the power produced by its power plants at prices established in the PPAs. Entergy continues to pursue opportunities to extend the existing PPAs and to enter into new PPAs with other parties. Following is a summary of the amount of Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business' and Energy Commodity Services' output that is currently sold forward under physical or financial contracts at fixed prices:

2003

 

2004

 

2005

 

2006

 

2007

Non-Utility Nuclear:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of planned generation sold forward

100%

 

92%

 

25%

 

11%

 

9%

Planned generation (GWh)

33,317

 

33,361

 

34,006

 

34,613

 

34,300

Average price per MWh

$37.06

 

$38.36

 

$35.94

 

$31.97

 

$31.42

Energy Commodity Services:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% of planned generation sold forward

38%

 

18%

 

22%

 

19%

 

21%

Planned generation (GWh)

3,124

 

3,249

 

3,820

 

3,494

 

3,618

Contracted spark spread per MWh

$11.70

 

$10.63

 

$10.62

 

$9.69

 

$9.68

                The Vermont Yankee acquisition included a 10-year PPA under which the former owners will buy the power produced by the plant, which is through the expiration of the current operating license for the plant. The PPA includes an adjustment clause under which the prices specified in the PPA will be adjusted downward annually, beginning in 2006, if power market prices drop below the PPA prices. Accordingly, because the price is not fixed, the table above does not report power from that plant as sold forward after 2005.

                Under the PPAs with NYPA for the output of power from Indian Point 3 and FitzPatrick, the Non-Utility Nuclear business is obligated to produce at an average capacity factor of 85% with a financial true-up payment to NYPA should NYPA's cost to purchase power due to an output shortfall be higher than the PPAs' price.  The calculation of any true-up payments is based on two two-year periods.  For the first period, which ran through November 20, 2002, Indian Point 3 and FitzPatrick operated at 95% and 97%, respectively, under the true-up formula.  Credits of up to 5% reflecting period one generation above 85% can be used to offset any output shortfalls in the second period, which runs through the end of the PPAs on December 31, 2004.

                Entergy continually monitors industry trends in order to determine whether asset impairments or other losses could result from a decline in value, or cancellation, of merchant power projects, and records provisions for impairments and losses accordingly.

Marketing and Trading

                The earnings of Entergy's Energy Commodity Services segment are exposed to commodity price market risks primarily through Entergy's 50%-owned, unconsolidated investment in Entergy-Koch. Entergy-Koch Trading (EKT) uses value-at-risk models as one measure of the market risk of a loss in fair value for EKT's natural gas and power trading portfolio. Actual future gains and losses in portfolios will differ from those estimated based upon actual fluctuations in market rates, operating exposures, and the timing thereof, and changes in the portfolio of derivative financial instruments during the year.

                To manage its portfolio, EKT enters into various derivative and contractual transactions in accordance with the policy approved by the trading committee of the governing board of Entergy-Koch. The trading portfolio consists of physical and financial natural gas and power as well as other energy and weather-related contracts. These contracts take many forms, including futures, forwards, swaps, and options.

                Characteristics of EKT's value-at-risk method and the use of that method are as follows:

    • Value-at-risk is used in conjunction with stress testing, position reporting, and profit and loss reporting in order to measure and control the risk inherent in the trading and mark-to-market portfolios.

    • EKT estimates its value-at-risk using a model based on J.P. Morgan's Risk Metrics methodology combined with a Monte Carlo simulation approach.

    • EKT estimates its daily value-at-risk for natural gas and power using a 97.5% confidence level. EKT's daily value-at-risk is a measure that indicates that, if prices moved against the positions, the loss in neutralizing the portfolio would not be expected to exceed the calculated value-at-risk.

    • EKT seeks to limit the daily value-at-risk on any given day to a certain dollar amount approved by the trading committee.

                EKT's value-at-risk measures, which it calls Daily Earnings at Risk (DE@R), for its trading portfolio were as follows:

 

 

2002

 

2001

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DE@R at end of period

 

$15.2 million

 

$5.5 million

 

Average DE@R for the period

 

$10.8 million

 

$6.4 million

 

                EKT's DE@R increased in 2002 compared to 2001 as a result of an increase in the size of the position held and an increase in the volatility of natural gas prices in the latter part of the year.

                For all derivative and contractual transactions, EKT is exposed to losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to these transactions. Relevant considerations when assessing EKT's credit risk exposure include:

    • EKT's operations are primarily concentrated in the energy industry.

    • EKT's trade receivables and other financial instruments are predominantly with energy, utility, and financial services related companies, as well as other trading companies in the U.S., UK, and Western Europe.

    • EKT maintains credit policies, which its management believes minimize overall credit risk.

    • Prospective and existing customers are reviewed for creditworthiness based upon pre-established standards, with customers not meeting minimum standards providing various secured payment terms, including the posting of cash collateral.

    • EKT also has master netting agreements in place. These agreements allow EKT to offset cash and non-cash gains and losses arising from derivative instruments with the same counterparty. EKT's policy is to have such master netting agreements in place with significant counterparties.

Based on EKT's policies, risk exposures, and valuation adjustments related to credit, EKT does not anticipate a material adverse effect on its financial position as a result of counterparty nonperformance. As of December 31, 2002 approximately 86% of EKT's counterparty credit exposure is associated with companies that have at least investment grade credit ratings.

                Following are EKT's mark-to-market assets (liabilities) and the period within which the assets (liabilities) would be realized (paid) in cash if they are held to maturity and market prices are unchanged:

 

Maturities and Sources for Fair Value of Trading Contracts at December 31, 2002



2003



2004



2005 - 2006



Total

 

 

 

(In Millions)

 

 

 

Prices actively quoted

 

$45.0  

 

$45.1

 

($20.2)

 

$69.9 

Prices provided by other sources

24.4  

3.3

1.9 

29.6 

Prices based on models

 

 (13.3)

 

   1.3

 

     3.4 

 

   (8.6)

Total

 

$56.1 

 

$49.7

 

($14.9)

 

$90.9 

                Following is a roll-forward of the change in the fair value of EKT's mark-to-market contracts during 2002 (in millions):

 

 

 

2002

Fair value of contracts at December 31, 2001

 

$106 

Fair value of contracts settled during the year

 

(347)

Initial recorded value of new contracts entered into during the year

 

Net option premiums received during the year

 

(78)

Change in fair value of contracts attributable to market movements during the year

 

        403 

Net change in contracts outstanding during the year

 

        (15)

Fair value of contracts at December 31, 2002

$91 

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk

                Entergy Gulf States, System Fuels, and Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business enter into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the Euro-denominated payments due under certain purchase contracts. The notional amounts of the foreign currency forward contracts are 249.5 million Euro and the forward currency rates range from .8624 to .9664. The maturities of these forward contracts depend on the purchase contract payment dates and range in time from January 2003 to January 2007. The mark-to-market valuation of the forward contracts at December 31, 2002 was a net asset of $38.9 million. The counterparty banks obligated on 233.0 million Euro of the notional amount of these agreements are rated by Standard & Poor's Rating Services at AA on their senior debt obligations as of December 31, 2002. The counterparty bank obligated on 16.5 million Euro of the notional amount of these agreements is rated by Standard & Poor's Rating Services at A+ on its senior debt obligations as of December 31, 2002.

Interest Rate and Equity Price Risk - Decommissioning Trust Funds

                Entergy's nuclear decommissioning trust funds are exposed to fluctuations in equity prices and interest rates. The NRC requires Entergy to maintain trusts to fund the costs of decommissioning ANO 1, ANO 2, River Bend, Waterford 3, Grand Gulf 1, Pilgrim, Indian Point 1 and 2, and Vermont Yankee (NYPA currently retains the decommissioning trusts and liabilities for Indian Point 3 and FitzPatrick). The funds are invested primarily in equity securities; fixed-rate, fixed-income securities; and cash and cash equivalents. Management believes that exposure of the various funds to market fluctuations will not affect the financial results of operations for the ANO, River Bend, Grand Gulf 1, and Waterford 3 trust funds because of the application of regulatory accounting principles. The Pilgrim, Indian Point 1 and 2, and Vermont Yankee trust funds collectively hold approximately $841 million of fixed-rate, fixed-income securities as of December 31, 2002. These securities have an average coupon rate of approximately 6.0%, an average duration of approximately 5.2 years, and an average maturity of approximately 8.3 years. The Pilgrim, Indian Point 1 and 2, and Vermont Yankee trust funds also collectively hold equity securities worth approximately $358 million as of December 31, 2002. These securities are generally held in funds that are designed to approximate or somewhat exceed the return of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, and a small percentage of the securities are held in a fund intended to replicate the return of the Wilshire 4500 Index. The decommissioning trust funds are discussed more thoroughly in Notes 1 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements.

Utility Restructuring

                Major changes are occurring in the wholesale and retail electric utility business, including in the electric transmission business. In Entergy's U.S. Utility service territory, movement to retail competition either has not occurred, has been significantly delayed, or has been abandoned. At FERC, the pace of restructuring at the wholesale level has begun but has also been delayed. It is too early to predict the ultimate effects of changes in U.S. energy markets. Restructuring issues are complex and are continually affected by events at the national, regional, state, and local levels. These changes may result, in the long-term, in fundamental changes in the way traditional integrated utilities and holding company systems, like the Entergy system, conduct their business. Some of these changes may be positive for Entergy, while others may not be.

                In the long-term, these changes may result in increased costs associated with utility unbundling of services or functions and transitioning in new organizational structures and ways of conducting business. It is possible that the new organizational structures that may be required will result in lost economies of scale, less beneficial cost sharing arrangements within utility holding company systems, and, in some cases, greater difficulty and cost in accessing capital. Furthermore, these changes could result in early refinancing of debt, the reorganization of debt, or other obligations between newly formed companies and Entergy. As a result of federal and state "codes of conduct" and affiliate transaction rules, adopted as part of restructuring, new non-utility affiliates in Entergy's system may be precluded from, or limited in, doing business with affiliated electric market participants, or have prices set at the lower of cost or market. In addition, regulators may impose limits on (price caps), rather than have the market set, wholesale energy prices. There are a number of other changes that may result from electric business competition and unbundling, including, but not limited to, changes to labor relations, management and staffing, structure of operations, environmental compliance responsibility, and other aspects of the utility business.

Transmission

                In 2000, FERC issued an order encouraging electric utilities to voluntarily place their transmission facilities under the control of independent RTOs (regional transmission organizations). These organizations were to be operational by December 15, 2001, but delays have occurred as utility companies and federal and state regulators work to resolve various issues related to the establishment of RTOs.

                Entergy's domestic utility companies are participating with other transmission owners within the southeastern United States to establish an RTO, the proposed SeTrans RTO. In October 2002, FERC issued a declaratory order approving certain central aspects of the SeTrans RTO proposal. Because of retail regulatory concerns regarding RTOs, certain retail regulators ordered the domestic utility companies to evaluate the costs and benefits associated with establishing such entities. The Southeastern Association of Regulatory Utility Commissions commissioned a separate cost-benefit study that was intended to evaluate similar issues for the entire Southeast, including the region that would be covered by the proposed SeTrans RTO. Both cost-benefit studies concluded that an RTO, if properly structured (e.g., locational marginal prices to manage congestion, participant funding for expansion cost), can provide benefits for the customers of the domestic utility companies. However, a number of important issues relating to the design of the transmission tariffs and the terms of the proposed SeTrans RTO remain to be finalized and approved by regulators. Until this process is complete, Entergy cannot predict the impact that RTO developments will have on its financial condition, results of operations, or liquidity. Entergy does not expect the SeTrans RTO to become operational before the end of 2004.

Retail

                Only in the Texas portion of Entergy Gulf States' service territory has there been significant retail open access activity, but implementation has been delayed in that territory. Entergy does not expect that retail open access within the context of a functional FERC-approved RTO is likely to begin for Entergy Gulf States before the end of 2004. Entergy Gulf States has recently filed a proposal with the PUCT for an interim solution to begin retail open access on January 1, 2004, or otherwise delay retail open access until at least 2007. While the PUCT has approved a basic business separation plan for Entergy Gulf States in Texas, several other proceedings necessary to implement retail open access are still pending in Texas. In addition, the LPSC has not approved certain matters needed for retail open access to begin in Texas. Delay in the start of retail open access may delay or jeopardize the regulatory approvals needed to comply with Texas, Louisiana, and federal law and may therefore have an adverse effect on Entergy. Retail open access legislation has not been enacted in the other jurisdictions in Entergy's service territory, except for in Arkansas, where it was recently repealed.

Nuclear Matters

                The domestic utility companies, System Energy, and Non-Utility Nuclear subsidiaries own and operate, through affiliates, ten nuclear power generating units. Entergy is, therefore, subject to the risks related to owning and operating nuclear plants. These include risks from the use, storage, handling and disposal of high-level and low-level radioactive materials, limitations on the amounts and types of insurance commercially available for losses in connection with nuclear operations, and technological and financial uncertainties related to decommissioning nuclear plants at the end of their licensed lives, including the sufficiency of funds in decommissioning trusts. In the event of an unanticipated early shutdown of any of Entergy's nuclear plants, Entergy may be required to provide additional funds or credit support to satisfy regulatory requirements for decommissioning.

                Concerns are being expressed in public forums about the safety of nuclear generating units and nuclear fuel, in particular in the area where Entergy's Indian Point units are located, which are discussed in more detail below. These concerns have led to various proposals to federal regulators as well as governing bodies in some localities where Entergy owns nuclear plants for legislative and regulatory changes that could lead to the shut down of nuclear units, denial of license extension applications, municipalization of nuclear units, restrictions on nuclear units as a result of unavailability of sites for nuclear fuel disposal, or other adverse effects on owning and operating nuclear power plants. Entergy believes that its generating units are in compliance with NRC requirements and intends to vigorously respond to these concerns and proposals.

                Groups of concerned citizens and local public officials have raised concerns about safety issues associated with Entergy's Indian Point power plants located in New York. They argue that Indian Point's security measures and emergency plans do not provide reasonable assurance to protect the public health and safety. The NRC has legal jurisdiction over these matters. In a decision that became final on December 13, 2002, the NRC denied a petition filed by Riverkeeper, Inc. asking the NRC to order Entergy to suspend operations, revoke the operating license or adopt other measures, including a temporary shutdown of Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3. The NRC noted that after September 11, 2001, it ordered enhanced security measures at all nuclear facilities and found that as a result of the collective measures taken since September 11, 2001, the security at Indian Point provides adequate protection of public health and safety. The NRC further found that the existing emergency response plans are flexible enough to respond to a wide variety of adverse conditions, including a terrorist attack, and that the current spent fuel storage system adequately protects the public health and safety. Riverkeeper has petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit for review of this final action of the NRC. In order to prevail, Riverkeeper must show that the NRC has violated the Atomic Energy Act, abused its discretion, and has completely abdicated its statutory duty regarding this matter. Entergy believes that the action of the NRC was based upon a thorough and thoughtful review of the law and the facts and that the NRC decision will be affirmed by the court.

 

                In addition, certain concerns are being raised regarding the adequacy of the emergency response plans for Indian Point. These matters initially must be reviewed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA"). Jurisdiction as to the overall adequacy of emergency planning and preparedness for Indian Point lies with the NRC. Entergy believes that the emergency response plans for Indian Point are in compliance with NRC requirements and thus adequately protect public health and safety.

 

                A January 2003 consultant's draft report prepared for the State of New York to review emergency preparedness around Indian Point concluded generically that federal emergency planning regulations and guidelines were not adequate to cope with new threats of terrorism. This conclusion was based in part on the view that radiation releases, including those caused by terrorist events, could be faster and larger than those for which the emergency plans were designed. As a result, even if emergency planning for Indian Point were to comply fully with all federal regulations and guidelines, this criticism in the report would stand. There were other plant-specific criticisms in the report. For these reasons, the report concluded that emergency planning for Indian Point is not adequate at this time. In March 2003, a final report was issued which reached similar conclusions. The NRC in reacting to the draft report observed that current emergency plans are already designed to cope with significant radiation releases regardless of cause and stated that it was reviewing the draft report's findings to determine if the emergency plans require modification.

 

                A February 2003, report issued by FEMA Region II evaluated a September 2002 exercise and related activities for the ten-mile emergency planning zone around Indian Point. The report identified no deficiencies with respect to the exercise. The report did conclude that in the absence of corrected and updated state and county plans, FEMA could not provide "reasonable assurance" that appropriate measures can be taken in the event of a radiological emergency. If the state provided this information and a schedule of corrective actions by May 2, 2003, the report stated that FEMA would reevaluate this decision. If corrective actions are not taken, FEMA Region II indicated that (a) it would notify FEMA headquarters that assurance cannot be provided regarding the adequacy of the plans to protect the health and safety of the public and (b) FEMA headquarters would notify the NRC and Governor of New York of the same. The notice from FEMA to the NRC would begin corrective action periods. If corrective action were not taken by the end of these periods, the NRC must determine whether there is reasonable assurance regarding the adequacy of plans to protect the health and safety of the public. If the NRC determines that there is not such assurance, it has the authority to order the Indian Point plants to shut down.

 

                Entergy is interacting with New York state and county officials, FEMA, NRC and other federal agencies to make additional improvements to the emergency response plans that may be warranted and to further assure them as to the adequacy of the plans. Entergy will vigorously oppose all attempts to shut down the Indian Point plants.

 

                The Westchester County Executive announced his proposal to acquire Indian Point by purchase or condemnation and has announced an intention to commission a feasibility study regarding municipalization of Indian Point. At this time, considering the financial and legal impediments that the County would face in implementing this proposal, it is improbable that the County could condemn or municipalize Indian Point.

 

Litigation

                Entergy and its subsidiaries are involved in the ordinary course of business in a substantial amount of employment, asbestos, hazardous material and other environmental and rate-related proceedings and litigation, a significant portion of which originates in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy uses legal and appropriate means to contest litigation threatened or filed against it, but the litigation environment in these states poses a significant business risk.

Critical Accounting Estimates

                The preparation of Entergy's financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and judgments that can have a significant effect on reported financial position, results of operations, and cash flows. Management has identified the following estimates as critical accounting estimates because they are based on assumptions and measurements that involve an unusual degree of uncertainty, and there is the potential that different assumptions and measurements could produce estimates that are significantly different than those recorded in Entergy's financial statements.

Nuclear Decommissioning Costs

                Entergy owns a significant number of nuclear generation facilities in both its U.S. Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear business units. Regulations require that these facilities be decommissioned after the facility is taken out of service, and funds are collected and deposited in trust funds during the facilities' operating lives in order to provide for this obligation. Entergy conducts periodic decommissioning cost studies (typically updated every three to five years) to estimate the costs that will be incurred to decommission the facilities. Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements contains details regarding Entergy's most recent studies and the obligations recorded by Entergy related to decommissioning. The following key assumptions have a significant effect on these estimates:

                The implications of these estimates vary significantly between Entergy's U.S. Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear businesses. Separate discussions of these implications by business unit follow.

U.S. Utility

                Entergy collects substantially all of the projected costs of decommissioning the nuclear facilities in its U.S. Utility business unit through rates charged to customers, except for portions of River Bend, which is discussed in more detail below. The amounts collected through rates, which are based upon decommissioning cost studies, are deposited in decommissioning trust funds. These collections plus earnings on the trust fund investments are generally estimated to be sufficient to fund the future decommissioning costs. Accordingly, U.S. Utility decommissioning costs have no impact on Entergy's earnings, as accrued costs are offset by earnings on trust funds and collections from customers. For the U.S. Utility segment, if decommissioning cost study estimates were changed and approved by regulators, collections from customers would also change.

                Approximately half of River Bend is not currently subject to cost-based ratemaking. When Entergy Gulf States obtained the 30% share of River Bend formerly owned by Cajun, Entergy Gulf States obtained decommissioning trust funds of $132 million, which have since grown to almost $150 million. Entergy Gulf States believes that these funds will be sufficient to cover the costs of decommissioning this portion of River Bend, and no further collections or deposits are being made for these costs. Additionally, under the Deregulated Asset Plan in the Louisiana jurisdiction of Entergy Gulf States, a portion of River Bend (approximately 16% of its total capacity) is excluded from rate base, and no amounts have been or are being collected for decommissioning for this portion of the plant.

                In the U.S. Utility business unit, the obligations recorded by Entergy for decommissioning are classified either as a component of accumulated depreciation (ANO 1 and 2, Waterford 3, and the regulated portion of River Bend) or as a deferred credit (System Energy and the nonregulated portion of River Bend) in the line item entitled "Decommissioning." The amounts recorded for these obligations are comprised of collections from customers and earnings on the trust funds. The classification and recording of these obligations will change with the implementation of SFAS 143, which is discussed in more detail below.

Non-Utility Nuclear

                In conjunction with the purchase of Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear facilities, Entergy assumed the decommissioning obligations and received the related decommissioning trust funds (except for the NYPA acquisition, in which NYPA retained the decommissioning obligations for the Indian Point 3 and FitzPatrick units). Based on decommissioning cost studies and expected plant operation lives, Entergy believes that the amounts in the trust funds will be sufficient to fund future decommissioning costs without additional deposits from Entergy.

                As Entergy has assumed these decommissioning obligations without any further external source of funding, changes in estimates of decommissioning costs for these units will have a direct impact on Entergy's financial position and results of operations. Upon purchase of the plants, Entergy recorded obligations that were equivalent to the amounts initially received in the decommissioning trust funds. These obligations are recorded as deferred credits in the line item entitled "Decommissioning." These obligations are accreted at implicit discount rates that are determined based upon the estimated costs of decommissioning. The accounting for these obligations will change with the implementation of SFAS 143, which is discussed in more detail below.

SFAS 143

                Entergy implemented SFAS 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations," effective January 1, 2003. Nuclear decommissioning costs comprise substantially all of Entergy's asset retirement obligations, and the measurement and recording of Entergy's decommissioning obligations outlined above will change significantly with the implementation of SFAS 143. The most significant differences in the measurement of these obligations are outlined below:

    • Recording of full obligation - SFAS 143 requires that the fair value of an asset retirement obligation be recorded when it is incurred. This will cause the recorded decommissioning obligation in Entergy's U.S. Utility business to increase significantly, as Entergy had previously only recorded this obligation as the related costs were collected from customers, and as earnings were recorded on the related trust funds.

    • Fair value approach - SFAS 143 requires that these obligations be measured using a fair value approach. Among other things, this entails the assumption that the costs will be incurred by a third party and will therefore include appropriate profit margins and risk premiums. Entergy's decommissioning studies to date have been based on Entergy performing the work, and have not included any such margins or premiums. Inclusion of these items increases cost estimates.

    • Discount rate - SFAS 143 requires that these obligations be discounted using a credit-adjusted, risk-free rate. This will result in significant decreases in Entergy's decommissioning obligations in the Non-Utility Nuclear business, as this discount rate is higher than the implicit rates utilized by Entergy in accounting for these obligations through December 31, 2002.

The net effect of implementing this standard, to the extent that it was not recorded as regulatory assets or liabilities, will be recognized as a cumulative effect of an accounting change in Entergy's 2003 statement of income. Implementation will have the following effect on Entergy's financial statements:

    • The net effect of implementing this standard for the rate-regulated business of the domestic utility companies and System Energy will be recorded as regulatory assets or liabilities, with no resulting impact on Entergy's net income. Assets and liabilities are expected to increase by approximately $1.1 billion in 2003 for the domestic utility companies and System Energy as a result of recording the asset retirement obligations at their fair values as determined under SFAS 143 and recording the related regulatory assets and liabilities. The implementation of SFAS 143 for the portion of River Bend not subject to cost-based ratemaking is expected to decrease earnings by approximately $25 million as a result of a one-time cumulative effect of accounting change.

    • For the Non-Utility Nuclear business, the implementation of SFAS 143 is expected to result in a decrease in liabilities in 2003 of approximately $520 million as a result of the discounting methodology required by SFAS 143. Assets are expected to decrease in 2003 by approximately $360 million. Earnings are expected to increase by approximately $160 million as a result of a one-time cumulative effect of accounting change.

Also Entergy expects 2003 earnings for the Non-Utility Nuclear business to increase by approximately $15 million after-tax over the current level because of the change in accretion of the liability and depreciation of the associated costs. This effect will gradually decrease over future years.

Impairment of Long-lived Assets

                Entergy has significant investments in long-lived assets in all of its segments, and Entergy evaluates these assets against the market economics and under the accounting rules for impairment whenever there are indications that impairments may exist. This evaluation involves a significant degree of estimation and uncertainty, and these estimates are particularly important in Entergy's U.S. Utility and Energy Commodity Services segments. In the U.S. Utility segment, portions of River Bend and Grand Gulf are not included in rate base, which could reduce the revenue that would otherwise be recovered for the applicable portions of those units' generation. In the Energy Commodity Services segment, Entergy's investments in merchant generation assets are subject to impairment if adverse market conditions arise.

                In order to determine if Entergy should recognize an impairment of a long-lived asset that is to be held and used, accounting standards require that the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flows from the asset be compared to the asset's carrying value. If the expected undiscounted future cash flows exceed the carrying value, no impairment is recorded; if such cash flows are less than the carrying value, Entergy is required to record an impairment charge to write the asset down to its fair value. If an asset is held for sale, an impairment is required to be recognized if the fair value (less costs to sell) of the asset is less than its carrying value.

                These estimates are based on a number of key assumptions, including:

    • Future power and fuel prices - Electricity and gas prices have been very volatile in recent years, and this volatility is expected to continue for some time. This volatility necessarily increases the imprecision inherent in the long-term forecasts of commodity prices that are a key determinant of estimated future cash flows. There is currently an oversupply of electricity throughout the U.S., and it is necessary to project economic growth and other macroeconomic factors in order to project when this oversupply will cease and prices will rise. Similarly, gas prices have been volatile as a result of recent fluctuations in both supply and demand, and projecting future trends in these prices is difficult.

    • Market value of generation assets - Valuing assets held for sale requires estimating the current market value of generation assets. While market transactions provide evidence for this valuation, the market for such assets is volatile and the value of individual assets is impacted by factors unique to those assets.

    • Future operating costs - Entergy assumes relatively minor annual increases in operating costs. Technological or regulatory changes that have a significant impact on operations could cause a significant change in these assumptions.

                The carrying value of Entergy's nonregulated portions of River Bend and Grand Gulf approximates $1.2 billion at December 31, 2002. To date, Entergy's impairment tests have not required an impairment to be recorded for these assets.

                Due to the oversupply of power that existed throughout the U.S. and the UK in 2002, and the resulting decreases in spark spreads, consistent with Entergy's point of view, Entergy's impairment tests indicated that a number of impairments were required to be recognized in 2002 in the Energy Commodity Services segment. These impairments, which were also accompanied by other charges related to the restructuring of Entergy's independent power business, are further detailed in Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements.

Mark-to-market Accounting

                As required by generally accepted accounting principles, Entergy and Entergy-Koch mark-to-market commodity instruments held by them for trading and risk management purposes that are considered derivatives under SFAS 133 or energy trading contracts under EITF 98-10. Because of the significant estimates and uncertainties inherent in mark-to-market accounting, this method is considered a critical accounting estimate for the Energy Commodity Services segment. Examples of commodity instruments that are marked to market include:

    • commodity futures, options, swaps, and forwards that are expected to be net settled; and

    • power sales agreements that do not involve delivery of power from Entergy's power plants.

Conversely, commodity contracts that are not considered derivatives or energy trading contracts, generally because they involve physical delivery of a commodity to the purchaser, are not marked to market. Examples of commodity contracts that are not marked to market include:

    • the PPAs for Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear plants;

    • capacity purchases and sales by the U.S. Utility companies; and

    • forward contracts that will result in physical delivery.

                Fair value estimates of the commodity instruments that are marked to market are made at discrete points in time based on relevant market information. Market quotes are used in determining fair value whenever they are available. When market quotes are not available (e.g., of a long-dated commodity contract), other information is used, including transactional data and internally developed models. Fair value estimates based on these other methodologies are necessarily subjective in nature and involve uncertainties and matters of significant judgment. These uncertainties include projections of macroeconomic trends and future commodity prices, including supply and demand levels and future price volatility. The impact of these uncertainties, however, is lessened by the relatively short-term nature of the mark-to-market positions held by Entergy and EKT.

                In addition, the EITF reached a consensus to rescind Issue No. 98-10 effective January 1, 2003. Rescinding Issue No. 98-10 will result in some energy-related contracts being accounted for on an accrual basis that were previously accounted for on a mark-to-market basis. Contracts that meet the provisions of SFAS 133 to qualify as derivatives will be marked-to-market in accordance with the guidance in SFAS 133. Contracts such as capacity, transportation, storage, tolling, and full requirements contracts that are based on physical assets and do not meet the provisions of SFAS 133 to qualify as derivatives will be accounted for using accrual accounting. Energy commodity inventories held by trading companies such as physical natural gas will be accounted for at the lower of cost or market. The adoption of the consensus will have minimal cumulative and ongoing earnings effects for Entergy's Energy Commodity Services business.

Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits

                Entergy sponsors defined benefit pension plans which cover substantially all employees. Additionally, Entergy provides postretirement health care and life insurance benefits for substantially all employees who reach retirement age while still working for Entergy. Entergy's reported costs of providing these benefits, as described in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements, are impacted by numerous factors including the provisions of the plans, changing employee demographics and various actuarial calculations, assumptions, and accounting mechanisms. Because of the complexity of these calculations, the long-term nature of these obligations, and the importance of the assumptions utilized, Entergy's estimate of these costs is a critical accounting estimate for the U.S. Utility and Non-Utility Nuclear segments.

Assumptions

                Key actuarial assumptions utilized in determining these costs include:

    • Discount rates used in determining the future benefit obligations;

    • Projected health care cost trend rates;

    • Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets; and

    • Rate of increase in future compensation levels.

                Entergy reviews these assumptions on an annual basis and adjusts them as necessary. The falling interest rate environment and poor performance of the financial markets over the past several years have impacted Entergy's funding and reported costs for these benefits. In addition, these trends have caused Entergy to make a number of adjustments to its assumptions.

                In selecting an assumed discount rate, Entergy reviews market yields on high-quality corporate debt. Based on recent market trends, Entergy reduced its discount rate from 7.5% in 2000 and 2001 to 6.75% in 2002. Entergy reviews actual recent cost trends and projected future trends in establishing health care cost trend rates. Based on this review, Entergy increased its health care cost trend rates from a range in 2001 of 8% gradually decreasing to 5% to a range in 2002 of 10% gradually decreasing to 4.5%.

                In determining its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets, Entergy reviews past long-term performance, asset allocations, and long-term inflation assumptions. Entergy targets an asset allocation for its plan assets of roughly 65% equity securities and 35% fixed income securities. Based on recent market trends, Entergy decreased its expected long-term rate of return on plan assets from 9% in 2000 and 2001 to 8.75% for 2002. The trend of reduced inflation caused Entergy to reduce its assumed rate of increase in future compensation levels from 4.6% in 2000 and 2001 to 3.25% in 2002.

Cost Sensitivity

                The following chart reflects the sensitivity of pension cost to changes in certain actuarial assumptions (in thousands):


Actuarial Assumption

 

Change in Assumption

 

Impact on 2002
Pension Cost

 

Impact on Projected Benefit Obligation

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

Discount rate

 

(0.25%)

 

$3,043

 

$70,313

Rate of return on plan assets

 

(0.25%)

 

$4,335

 

-

Rate of increase in compensation

 

0.25%

 

$2,376

 

$15,556

                The following chart reflects the sensitivity of postretirement benefit cost to changes in certain actuarial assumptions (in thousands):



Actuarial Assumption

 


Change in Assumption

 

Impact on 2002 Postretirement Benefit Cost

 

Impact on Accumulated Postretirement Benefit Obligation

 

 

Increase/(Decrease)

Health care cost trend

 

0.25%

 

$3,379

 

$20,900

Discount rate

 

(0.25%)

 

$2,105

 

$24,348

Each fluctuation above assumes that the other components of the calculation are held constant.

Accounting Mechanisms

                In accordance with SFAS No. 87, "Employers' Accounting for Pensions," Entergy utilizes a number of accounting mechanisms that reduce the volatility of reported pension costs. Differences between actuarial assumptions and actual plan results are deferred and are amortized into cost only when the accumulated differences exceed 10% of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of plan assets. If necessary, the excess is amortized over the average remaining service period of active employees.

                Additionally, Entergy smoothes the impact of asset performance on pension expense over a twenty-quarter phase-in period through a "market-related" value of assets calculation. Since the market-related value of assets recognizes investment gains or losses over a twenty-quarter period, the future value of assets will be impacted as previously deferred gains or losses are recognized. As a result, the losses that the pension plan assets experienced in 2002 may have an adverse impact on pension cost in future years depending on whether the actuarial losses at each measurement date exceed the 10% corridor in accordance with SFAS 87.

Costs and Funding

                In 2002, Entergy's total pension cost was $38 million and funding was $13 million. Taking into account asset performance and the changes made in the actuarial assumptions, Entergy does not anticipate 2003 pension cost to be materially different from 2002. Pension funding for 2003 is anticipated to be $39 million.

                Due to negative pension plan asset returns over the past several years, Entergy's accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 2002 exceeded plan assets. As a result, Entergy was required to recognize an additional minimum liability of $208.1 million ($175 million net of related pension assets) as prescribed by SFAS 87. This resulted in a charge to other comprehensive income of $11 million, after reductions for the unrecognized prior service cost, amounts recoverable in rates, and taxes. Net income for 2002 was not affected.

                Total postretirement health care and life insurance benefit costs for Entergy in 2002 were $81 million. Because of a number of factors, including the increased health care cost trend rate, Entergy expects 2003 costs to approximate $108 million.

Other Contingencies

                Entergy, as a company with multi-state domestic utility operations, and which also had investments in international projects, is subject to a number of federal, state, and international laws and regulations and other factors and conditions in the areas in which it operates, which potentially subject it to environmental, litigation, and other risks. Entergy periodically evaluates its exposure for such risks and records a reserve for those matters which are considered probable and estimable in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Environmental

                Entergy must comply with environmental laws and regulations applicable to the handling and disposal of hazardous waste. Under these various laws and regulations, Entergy could incur substantial costs to restore properties consistent with the various standards. Entergy conducts studies to determine the extent of any required remediation and has recorded reserves based upon its evaluation of the likelihood of loss and expected dollar amount for each issue. Additional sites could be identified which require environmental remediation for which Entergy could be liable. The amounts of environmental reserves recorded can be significantly affected by the following external events or conditions:

    • Changes to existing state or federal regulation by governmental authorities having jurisdiction over air quality, water quality, control of toxic substances and hazardous and solid wastes, and other environmental matters.

    • The identification of additional sites or the filing of other complaints in which Entergy may be asserted to be a potentially responsible party.

    • The resolution or progression of existing matters through the court system or resolution by the EPA.

Litigation

                Entergy has been named as defendant in a number of lawsuits involving employment, ratepayer, and injuries and damages issues, among other matters. Entergy periodically reviews the cases in which it has been named as defendant and assesses the likelihood of loss in each case as probable, reasonably estimable, or remote and records reserves for cases which have a probable likelihood of loss and can be estimated. Notes 2 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements include more detail on ratepayer and other lawsuits and management's assessment of the adequacy of reserves recorded for these matters. Given the environment in which Entergy operates, and the unpredictable nature of many of the cases in which Entergy is named as a defendant, however, the ultimate outcome of the litigation Entergy is exposed to has the potential to materially affect the results of operations of Entergy, or its operating company subsidiaries.

Sales Warranty and Tax Reserves

                Entergy's operations, including acquisitions and divestitures, require Entergy to evaluate risks such as the potential tax effects of a transaction, or warranties made in connection with such a transaction. Entergy believes that it has adequately assessed and provided for these types of risks, where applicable. Any reserves recorded for these types of issues, however, could be significantly affected by events such as claims made by third parties under warranties, additional transactions contemplated by Entergy, or completion of reviews of the tax treatment of certain transactions or issues by taxing authorities. Entergy does not expect a material adverse effect from these matters.

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA - FIVE-YEAR COMPARISON

  2002 2001 2000 1999 1998(1)
  (In Thousands, Except Percentages and Per Share Amounts)

Operating revenues

$ 8,305,035

$ 9,620,899

$ 10,022,129

$ 8,765,635

$11,494,772

Income before cumulative
  effect of accounting change


$ 623,072


$ 727,025


$ 710,915


$ 595,026


$ 785,629

Earnings per share before
  cumulative effect of accounting
  change
     Basic
     Diluted
 

 


$ 2.69
$ 2.64

 


$ 3.18
$ 3.13

 


$ 3.00
$ 2.97

 


$ 2.25
$ 2.25

 


$ 3.00
$ 3.00

Dividends declared per share

$ 1.34

$ 1.28

$ 1.22

$ 1.20

$ 1.50

Return on average common equity

7.85%

10.04%

9.62%

7.77%

10.71%

Book value per share, year-end

$ 35.24

$ 33.78

$ 31.89

$ 29.78

$ 28.82

Total assets

$26,947,969

$25,910,311

$ 25,451,896

$22,969,940

$22,836,694

Long-term obligations (2)

$ 7,482,269

$ 7,743,298

$ 8,214,724

$ 7,252,697

$ 7,349,349

 

 

 

 

 

 

(1) Includes the effects of the sales of London Electricity and CitiPower in December 1998.

(2) Includes long-term debt (excluding currently maturing debt), preferred stock with sinking fund, preferred securities of subsidiary trusts and partnership, and noncurrent capital lease obligations.

  1. 1998 includes the effect of a reserve for rate refund at Entergy Gulf States. 2001 includes the effect of a reserve for rate refund at System Energy.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

 

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Entergy Corporation:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Entergy Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated statements of income; of retained earnings, comprehensive income, and paid-in capital; and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Corporation's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Entergy Corporation and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, Entergy Corporation adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets" in 2002 and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" in 2001.

 

 

 

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana

February 21, 2003

 

 

 

 

 

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                   ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                                              For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                              2002          2001        2000
                                                             (In Thousands, Except Share Data)
                  OPERATING REVENUES
Domestic electric                                           $6,646,414   $7,244,827   $7,219,686
Natural gas                                                    125,353      185,902      165,872
Competitive businesses                                       1,533,268    2,190,170    2,636,571
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------
TOTAL                                                        8,305,035    9,620,899   10,022,129
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------

                  OPERATING EXPENSES
Operating and Maintenance:
   Fuel, fuel-related expenses, and
     gas purchased for resale                                2,154,596    3,681,677    2,645,835
   Purchased power                                             832,334    1,021,432    2,662,881
   Nuclear refueling outage expenses                           105,592       89,145       70,511
   Provision for turbine commitments, asset impairments
     and restructuring charges                                 428,456            -            -
   Other operation and maintenance                           2,488,112    2,151,742    1,943,814
Decommissioning                                                 30,458        3,189       39,484
Taxes other than income taxes                                  380,462      399,849      370,344
Depreciation and amortization                                  839,181      721,033      746,125
Other regulatory charges (credits) - net                      (141,836)     (20,510)      34,073
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------
TOTAL                                                        7,117,355    8,047,557    8,513,067
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------

OPERATING INCOME                                             1,187,680    1,573,342    1,509,062
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------

                     OTHER INCOME
Allowance for equity funds used during construction             31,658       26,209       32,022
Gain on sale of assets - net                                     6,612        5,226        2,340
Interest and dividend income                                   118,325      159,805      163,050
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated equity affiliates         183,878      162,882       13,715
Miscellaneous - net                                              7,280       (4,769)      27,077
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------
TOTAL                                                          347,753      349,353      238,204
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------

              INTEREST AND OTHER CHARGES
Interest on long-term debt                                     507,604      544,920      477,071
Other interest - net                                           116,519      197,638       85,635
Distributions on preferred securities of subsidiaries           18,838       18,838       18,838
Allowance for borrowed funds used during construction          (24,538)     (21,419)     (24,114)
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------
TOTAL                                                          618,423      739,977      557,430
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------

INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND
CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE                         917,010    1,182,718    1,189,836

Income taxes                                                   293,938      455,693      478,921
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------

INCOME BEFORE CUMULATIVE EFFECT
OF ACCOUNTING CHANGE                                           623,072      727,025      710,915

CUMULATIVE EFFECT OF ACCOUNTING
CHANGE (net of income taxes of $10,064)                              -       23,482            -
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------

CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME                                        623,072      750,507      710,915

Preferred dividend requirements and other                       23,712       24,311       31,621
                                                            ----------   ----------   ----------

EARNINGS APPLICABLE TO
COMMON STOCK                                                  $599,360     $726,196     $679,294
                                                            ==========   ==========   ==========
Earnings per average common share before cumulative
effect of accounting change:
    Basic                                                        $2.69        $3.18        $3.00
    Diluted                                                      $2.64        $3.13        $2.97
Earnings per average common share:
    Basic                                                        $2.69        $3.29        $3.00
    Diluted                                                      $2.64        $3.23        $2.97
Dividends declared per common share                              $1.34        $1.28        $1.22
Average number of common shares outstanding:
    Basic                                                  223,047,431  220,944,270  226,580,449
    Diluted                                                227,303,103  224,733,662  228,541,307

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                   ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                                      For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                                                        2002          2001          2000
                                                                                                 (In Thousands)
                              OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Consolidated net income                                                               $623,072      $750,507      $710,915
Noncash items included in net income:
  Reserve for regulatory adjustments                                                    18,848      (359,199)       18,482
  Other regulatory charges (credits) - net                                            (141,836)      (20,510)       34,073
  Depreciation, amortization, and decommissioning                                      869,638       724,222       785,609
  Deferred income taxes and investment tax credits                                    (256,664)       87,752       124,457
  Allowance for equity funds used during construction                                  (31,658)      (26,209)      (32,022)
  Cumulative effect of accounting change                                                     -       (23,482)            -
  Gain on sale of assets - net                                                          (6,612)       (5,226)       (2,340)
  Equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries and unconsolidated affiliates      (181,878)     (150,799)      (13,715)
  Provision for turbine commitments and asset impairments                              428,456             -             -
 Changes in working capital (net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions):
  Receivables                                                                          (43,957)      302,230      (437,146)
  Fuel inventory                                                                         1,030        (3,419)      (20,447)
  Accounts payable                                                                     286,230      (415,160)      543,606
  Taxes accrued                                                                        462,956       486,676        20,871
  Interest accrued                                                                       7,209        17,287        45,789
  Deferred fuel                                                                        156,181       495,007       (38,001)
  Other working capital accounts                                                      (286,232)      (39,978)      102,336
Provision for estimated losses and reserves                                             10,533        19,093         6,019
Changes in other regulatory assets                                                      71,132       119,215       (66,903)
Other                                                                                  195,255       257,541       186,264
                                                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------
Net cash flow provided by operating activities                                       2,181,703     2,215,548     1,967,847
                                                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------

                               INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Construction/capital expenditures                                                   (1,530,301)   (1,380,417)   (1,493,717)
Allowance for equity funds used during construction                                     31,658        26,209        32,022
Nuclear fuel purchases                                                                (250,309)     (130,670)     (121,127)
Proceeds from sale/leaseback of nuclear fuel                                           183,664        71,964       117,154
Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses                                            215,088       784,282        61,519
Investment in nonutility properties                                                   (216,956)     (647,015)     (222,119)
Decrease (increase) in other investments                                                38,964      (631,975)      (15,943)
Changes in other temporary investments - net                                           150,000      (150,000)      321,351
Decommissioning trust contributions and realized change in trust assets                (84,914)      (95,571)      (63,805)
Other regulatory investments                                                           (39,390)       (3,460)     (385,331)
Other                                                                                  114,033       (68,067)      (44,016)
                                                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------
Net cash flow used in investing activities                                          (1,388,463)   (2,224,720)   (1,814,012)
                                                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.







                      ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                                        For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                                                        2002          2001          2000
                                                                                                (In Thousands)
                              FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from the issuance of:
  Long-term debt                                                                     1,197,330       682,402       904,522
  Common stock                                                                         130,061        64,345        41,908
Retirement of long-term debt                                                        (1,341,274)     (962,112)     (181,329)
Repurchase of common stock                                                            (118,499)      (36,895)     (550,206)
Redemption of preferred stock                                                           (1,858)      (39,574)     (157,658)
Changes in short-term borrowings - net                                                 244,333       (37,004)      267,000
Dividends paid:
  Common stock                                                                        (298,991)     (269,122)     (271,019)
  Preferred stock                                                                      (23,712)      (24,044)      (32,400)
                                                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------
Net cash flow provided by (used in) financing activities                              (212,610)     (622,004)       20,818
                                                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents                                    3,125           325        (5,948)
                                                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                   583,755      (630,851)      168,705

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                                       751,573     1,382,424     1,213,719
                                                                                    ----------    ----------    ----------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                          $1,335,328      $751,573    $1,382,424
                                                                                    ==========    ==========    ==========


SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
  Cash paid (received) during the period for:
    Interest - net of amount capitalized                                              $633,931      $708,748      $505,414
    Income taxes                                                                       $57,856     ($113,466)     $345,361
  Noncash investing and financing activities:
    Debt assumed by the Damhead Creek purchaser                                       $488,432             -             -
    Decommissioning trust funds acquired in nuclear power plant acquisitions          $310,000      $430,000             -
    Change in unrealized depreciation of
       decommissioning trust assets                                                   ($72,982)     ($34,517)     ($11,577)
    Long-term debt refunded with proceeds from
       long-term debt issued in prior period                                          ($47,000)            -             -
    Proceeds from long-term debt issued for the purpose
       of refunding prior long-term debt                                                     -       $47,000             -
    Acquisition of Indian Point 3 and FitzPatrick
       Fair value of assets acquired                                                         -             -      $917,667
       Initial cash paid at closing                                                          -             -       $50,000
       Liabilities assumed and notes issued to seller                                        -             -      $867,667

 See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.



                     ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                          CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                     ASSETS


                                                                              December 31,
                                                                           2002          2001
                                                                             (In Thousands)
                         CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents:
  Cash                                                                   $169,788      $129,866
  Temporary cash investments - at cost,
   which approximates market                                            1,165,260       618,327
  Special deposits                                                            280         3,380
                                                                      -----------   -----------
     Total cash and cash equivalents                                    1,335,328       751,573
                                                                      -----------   -----------
Other temporary investments                                                     -       150,000
Notes receivable                                                            2,078         2,137
Accounts receivable:
  Customer                                                                323,215       294,799
  Allowance for doubtful accounts                                         (27,285)      (28,355)
  Other                                                                   244,621       295,771
  Accrued unbilled revenues                                               319,133       268,680
                                                                      -----------   -----------
     Total receivables                                                    859,684       830,895
                                                                      -----------   -----------
Deferred fuel costs                                                        55,653       172,444
Accumulated deferred income taxes                                               -         6,488
Fuel inventory - at average cost                                           96,467        97,497
Materials and supplies - at average cost                                  525,900       460,644
Deferred nuclear refueling outage costs                                   163,646        79,755
Prepayments and other                                                     166,827       205,097
                                                                      -----------   -----------
TOTAL                                                                   3,205,583     2,756,530
                                                                      -----------   -----------

                 OTHER PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS
Investment in affiliates - at equity                                      824,209       766,103
Decommissioning trust funds                                             2,069,198     1,775,950
Non-utility property - at cost (less accumulated depreciation)            297,294       295,616
Other                                                                     270,889       495,542
                                                                      -----------   -----------
TOTAL                                                                   3,461,590     3,333,211
                                                                      -----------   -----------

                 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Electric                                                               26,789,538    26,359,676
Property under capital lease                                              746,624       753,310
Natural gas                                                               209,969       201,841
Construction work in progress                                           1,232,891       882,829
Nuclear fuel under capital lease                                          259,433       265,464
Nuclear fuel                                                              263,609       232,387
                                                                      -----------   -----------
TOTAL PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT                                    29,502,064    28,695,507
Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization                       12,307,112    11,805,578
                                                                      -----------   -----------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET                                    17,194,952    16,889,929
                                                                      -----------   -----------

                DEFERRED DEBITS AND OTHER ASSETS
Regulatory assets:
  SFAS 109 regulatory asset - net                                         844,105       946,126
  Unamortized loss on reacquired debt                                     155,161       166,546
  Other regulatory assets                                                 738,328       707,439
Long-term receivables                                                      24,703        28,083
Goodwill                                                                  377,172       377,172
Other                                                                     946,375       705,275
                                                                      -----------   -----------
TOTAL                                                                   3,085,844     2,930,641
                                                                      -----------   -----------

TOTAL ASSETS                                                          $26,947,969   $25,910,311
                                                                      ===========   ===========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                    ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY


                                                                             December 31,
                                                                          2002          2001
                                                                            (In Thousands)
                      CURRENT LIABILITIES
Currently maturing long-term debt                                      $1,191,320      $682,771
Notes payable                                                                 351       351,018
Accounts payable                                                          855,446       592,529
Customer deposits                                                         198,442       188,230
Taxes accrued                                                             385,315       550,133
Accumulated deferred income taxes                                          26,468             -
Nuclear refueling outage costs                                             14,244         2,080
Interest accrued                                                          175,440       192,420
Obligations under capital leases                                          153,822       149,352
Other                                                                     171,341       396,616
                                                                      -----------   -----------
TOTAL                                                                   3,172,189     3,105,149
                                                                      -----------   -----------

             DEFERRED CREDITS AND OTHER LIABILITIES
Accumulated deferred income taxes and taxes accrued                     4,250,800     3,974,664
Accumulated deferred investment tax credits                               447,925       471,090
Obligations under capital leases                                          155,943       181,085
Other regulatory liabilities                                              185,579       135,878
Decommissioning                                                         1,565,997     1,194,333
Transition to competition                                                  79,098       231,512
Regulatory reserves                                                        56,438        37,591
Accumulated provisions                                                    389,868       425,399
Other                                                                   1,145,232       801,040
                                                                      -----------   -----------
TOTAL                                                                   8,276,880     7,452,592
                                                                      -----------   -----------

Long-term debt                                                          7,086,999     7,321,028
Preferred stock with sinking fund                                          24,327        26,185
Preferred stock without sinking fund                                      334,337       334,337
Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
  preferred securities of subsidiary trusts holding
  solely junior subordinated deferrable debentures                        215,000       215,000

                      SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 500,000,000
  shares; issued 248,174,087 shares in 2002 and in 2001                     2,482         2,482
Paid-in capital                                                         4,666,753     4,662,704
Retained earnings                                                       3,938,693     3,638,448
Accumulated other comprehensive loss                                      (22,360)      (88,794)
Less - treasury stock, at cost (25,752,410 shares in 2002 and
  27,441,384 shares in 2001)                                              747,331       758,820
                                                                      -----------   -----------
TOTAL                                                                   7,838,237     7,456,020
                                                                      -----------   -----------

Commitments and Contingencies

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY                            $26,947,969   $25,910,311
                                                                      ===========   ===========
See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.


                      ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF RETAINED EARNINGS, COMPREHENSIVE INCOME, AND
                               PAID-IN CAPITAL

                                                                                For the Years Ended December 31,
                                                                   2002                      2001                   2000
                                                                                       (In Thousands)
                   RETAINED EARNINGS
Retained Earnings - Beginning of period                   $3,638,448               $3,190,639              $2,786,467

     Add: Earnings applicable to common stock                599,360   $599,360       726,196   $726,196      679,294    $679,294

     Deduct:
        Dividends declared on common stock                   299,031                  278,342                 275,929
        Capital stock and other expenses                          84                       45                    (807)
                                                          ----------               ----------              ----------
              Total                                          299,115                  278,387                 275,122
                                                          ----------               ----------              ----------

Retained Earnings - End of period                         $3,938,693               $3,638,448              $3,190,639
                                                          ==========               ==========              ==========




  ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE
  INCOME (LOSS) (Net of taxes):
Balance at beginning of period:
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes      ($17,973)                      $-                      $-
  Other accumulated comprehensive (loss) items               (70,821)                 (75,033)                (73,805)
                                                          ----------               ----------              ----------
     Total                                                   (88,794)                 (75,033)                (73,805)
                                                          ----------               ----------              ----------

Cumulative effect to January 1, 2001 of accounting
  change regarding fair value of derivative instruments            -                  (18,021)                      -

Net derivative instrument fair value changes
  arising during the period                                   35,286     35,286            48         48            -           -

Foreign currency translation adjustments                      65,948    (15,487)        4,615      4,615       (5,216)     (5,216)

Minimum pension liability adjustment                         (10,489)   (10,489)            -          -            -           -

Net unrealized investment gains (losses)                     (24,311)   (24,311)         (403)      (403)       3,988       3,988
                                                          ----------               ----------              ----------

Balance at end of period:
  Accumulated derivative instrument fair value changes        17,313                  (17,973)                      -
  Other accumulated comprehensive (loss) items               (39,673)                 (70,821)                (75,033)
                                                          ----------               ----------              ----------
     Total                                                  ($22,360)                ($88,794)               ($75,033)
                                                          ==========   --------    ==========   --------   ==========    --------
Comprehensive Income                                                   $584,359                 $730,456                 $678,066
                                                                       ========                 ========                 ========




                    PAID-IN CAPITAL
Paid-in Capital - Beginning of period                     $4,662,704               $4,660,483              $4,636,163

     Add:
          Common stock issuances related to stock plans        4,049                    2,221                  24,320
                                                          ----------               ----------              ----------


Paid-in Capital - End of period                           $4,666,753               $4,662,704              $4,660,483
                                                          ==========               ==========              ==========


See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.  

 

 

 

 

ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

                The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Entergy Corporation and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. As required by generally accepted accounting principles, certain significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. The domestic utility companies and System Energy maintain accounts in accordance with FERC and other regulatory guidelines. Certain previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform to current classifications, with no effect on net income or shareholders' equity.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

                The preparation of Entergy Corporation's consolidated financial statements, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Adjustments to the reported amounts of assets and liabilities may be necessary in the future to the extent that future estimates or actual results are different from the estimates used.

Revenues and Fuel Costs

                The domestic utility companies generate, transmit, and distribute electric power primarily to retail customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, including the City of New Orleans, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy Gulf States distributes gas to retail customers in and around Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans distributes gas to retail customers in the City of New Orleans. Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear and Energy Commodity Services segments derive almost all of their revenue from sales of electric power generated by plants owned by them.

                System Energy's operating revenues are intended to recover from Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans operating expenses and capital costs attributable to Grand Gulf 1. The capital costs are computed by allowing a return on System Energy's common equity funds allocable to its net investment in Grand Gulf 1, plus System Energy's effective interest cost for its debt allocable to its investment in Grand Gulf 1. System Energy's 1995 rate proceeding that was resolved in 2001 is discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

                Entergy recognizes revenue from electric power and gas sales when it delivers power or gas to its customers. To the extent that deliveries have occurred but a bill has not been issued, the domestic utility companies accrue an estimate of the revenues for energy delivered since the latest billings. Each month the estimated unbilled revenue amounts are recorded as revenue and a receivable, and the prior month's estimate is reversed.

                The domestic utility companies' rate schedules include either fuel adjustment clauses or fixed fuel factors, both of which allow either current recovery in billings to customers or deferral of fuel costs until the costs are billed to customers. Because the fuel adjustment clause mechanism allows monthly adjustments to recover fuel costs, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy New Orleans, and the Louisiana portion of Entergy Gulf States include a component of fuel cost recovery in their unbilled revenue calculations. Where the fuel component of revenues is billed based on a pre-determined fuel cost (fixed fuel factor), the fuel factor remains in effect until changed as part of a general rate case, fuel reconciliation, or fixed fuel factor filing. Effective January 2001, Entergy Mississippi's fuel factor includes an energy cost rider that is adjusted quarterly. In the case of Entergy Arkansas and the Texas portion of Entergy Gulf States, their fuel under-recoveries are treated as regulatory investments in the cash flow statements because those companies are allowed by their regulatory jurisdictions to recover the fuel cost regulatory asset over longer than a twelve-month period, and the companies earn a carrying charge on the under-recovered balances.

Property, Plant, and Equipment

                Property, plant, and equipment is stated at original cost. For the domestic utility companies and System Energy, the original cost of plant retired or removed, plus the applicable removal costs, less salvage, is charged to accumulated depreciation. Normal maintenance, repairs, and minor replacement costs are charged to operating expenses. Substantially all of the domestic utility companies' and System Energy's plant is subject to mortgage liens.

                Electric plant includes the portions of Grand Gulf 1 and Waterford 3 that have been sold and leased back. For financial reporting purposes, these sale and leaseback arrangements are reflected as financing transactions.

                Net property, plant, and equipment by business segment and functional category, as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, is shown below (in millions):

(1) This is reflected in accumulated depreciation and amortization on the balance sheet. The decommissioning liabilities related to Grand Gulf 1, Pilgrim, Indian Point 2, Vermont Yankee, and the 30% of River Bend previously owned by Cajun are reflected in the applicable balance sheets in "Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities - Decommissioning."

                Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis at rates based on the estimated service lives of the various classes of property. Depreciation rates on average depreciable property approximated 2.9% in 2002, 2001, and 2000. Included in these rates are the depreciation rates on average depreciable utility property of 2.8% in 2002 and 2001 and 2.9% in 2000 and the depreciation rates on average depreciable non-utility property of 3.8% in 2002, 4.5% in 2001, and 3.5% in 2000.

Jointly-Owned Generating Stations

                Certain Entergy subsidiaries jointly own electric generating facilities with third parties. The investments and expenses associated with these generating stations are recorded by the Entergy subsidiaries to the extent of their respective undivided ownership interests. As of December 31, 2002, the subsidiaries' investment and accumulated depreciation in each of these generating stations were as follows:

 



Generating Stations



Fuel-Type

Total
Megawatt
Capability (1)



Ownership



Investment



Depreciation

Grand Gulf

Unit 1

Nuclear

1,282

90.00%(2)

$3,587

$1,515

Independence

Units 1 and 2

Coal

1,657

47.90%

457

228

White Bluff

Units 1 and 2

Coal

1,620

57.00%

418

244

Roy S. Nelson

Unit 6

Coal

550

70.00%

404

227

Big Cajun 2

Unit 3

Coal

575

42.00%

229

119

Harrison County, Texas

 

Gas

550 (3)

70.00%

191

-

   1.   " Total Megawatt Capability" is the dependable load carrying capability as demonstrated under actual
         operating conditions based on the primary fuel (assuming no curtailments) that each station was designed to
         utilize.

  1. Includes an 11.5% leasehold interest held by System Energy. System Energy's Grand Gulf 1 lease obligations are discussed in Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

  2.  
  3. Represents estimated capacity as station is under construction and has yet to perform under actual operating conditions.

Goodwill

                Entergy implemented SFAS 142, "Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets," effective January 1, 2002. The implementation of SFAS 142 resulted in the cessation of Entergy's amortization of the remaining plant acquisition adjustment recorded in conjunction with its acquisition of Entergy Gulf States. Goodwill is now subject to impairment testing. The following table is a reconciliation of reported earnings applicable to common stock to earnings applicable to common stock without goodwill amortization for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000:

Nuclear Refueling Outage Costs

                Entergy records nuclear refueling outage costs in accordance with regulatory treatment and the matching principle. These refueling outage expenses are incurred to prepare the units to operate for the next operating cycle without having to be taken off line. Except for the River Bend plant, the costs are deferred during the outage and amortized over the period to the next outage. In accordance with the regulatory treatment of the River Bend plant, River Bend's costs are accrued in advance and included in the cost of service used to establish retail rates. Entergy Gulf States relieves the accrual when it incurs costs during the next River Bend outage.

Allowance for Funds Used During Construction

                AFUDC represents the approximate net composite interest cost of borrowed funds and a reasonable return on the equity funds used for construction in the U.S. Utility segment. Although AFUDC increases both the plant balance and earnings, it is realized in cash through depreciation provisions included in rates.

Income Taxes

                Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries file a U.S. consolidated federal income tax return. Income taxes are allocated to the subsidiaries in proportion to their contribution to consolidated taxable income. SEC regulations require that no Entergy subsidiary pay more taxes than it would have paid if a separate income tax return had been filed. In accordance with SFAS 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes," deferred income taxes are recorded for all temporary differences between the book and tax basis of assets and liabilities, and for certain credits available for carryforward.

                Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates in the period in which the tax or rate was enacted.

                Investment tax credits are deferred and amortized based upon the average useful life of the related property, in accordance with ratemaking treatment.

Earnings per Share

                The following table presents Entergy's basic and diluted earnings per share (EPS) calculation included on the consolidated income statement:

(1) Options to purchase approximately 109,897 and 148,500 shares of common stock at various prices were outstanding at the end of 2002 and 2001, respectively, that were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares at the end of each of the years presented. At the end of 2000, all outstanding options, totaling 11,468,316, were included in the computation of diluted earnings per share as a result of the average market price of the common shares being greater than the exercise prices.

Stock-based Compensation Plans

                Entergy has two plans that grant stock options, which are described more fully in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements. Entergy applies the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and related Interpretations in accounting for those plans. No stock-based employee compensation expense is reflected in net income as all options granted under those plans have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. Beginning January 1, 2003, Entergy will prospectively apply the fair value based method of accounting for stock options prescribed by SFAS 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation." Entergy expects the effect of applying the fair value method to be insignificant to its results of operations. The effect is less than may be indicated by the pro forma presentation below because Entergy expects prospectively to grant fewer stock options than in recent years, and because the fair value method is being applied prospectively. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share if Entergy would have historically applied the fair value based method of accounting to stock-based employee compensation.

Application of SFAS 71

                The domestic utility companies and System Energy currently account for the effects of regulation pursuant to SFAS 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation." This statement applies to the financial statements of a rate-regulated enterprise that meet three criteria. The enterprise must have rates that (i) are approved by a body empowered to set rates that bind customers (its regulator); (ii) are cost-based; and (iii) can be charged to and collected from customers. These criteria may also be applied to separable portions of a utility's business, such as the generation or transmission functions, or to specific classes of customers. If an enterprise meets these criteria, it capitalizes costs that would otherwise be charged to expense if the rate actions of its regulator make it probable that those costs will be recovered in future revenue. Such capitalized costs are reflected as regulatory assets in the accompanying financial statements. A significant majority of Entergy's regulatory assets, net of related regulatory and deferred tax liabilities, earn a return on investment during their recovery periods. SFAS 71 requires that rate-regulated enterprises assess the probability of recovering their regulatory assets at each balance sheet date. When an enterprise concludes that recovery of a regulatory asset is no longer probable, the regulatory asset must be removed from the entity's balance sheet.

                SFAS 101, "Accounting for the Discontinuation of Application of FASB Statement No. 71," specifies how an enterprise that ceases to meet the criteria for application of SFAS 71 for all or part of its operations should report that event in its financial statements. In general, SFAS 101 requires that the enterprise report the discontinuation of the application of SFAS 71 by eliminating from its balance sheet all regulatory assets and liabilities related to the applicable segment. Additionally, if it is determined that a regulated enterprise is no longer recovering all of its costs and therefore no longer qualifies for SFAS 71 accounting, it is possible that an impairment may exist that could require further write-offs of plant assets.

                EITF 97-4: "Deregulation of the Pricing of Electricity - Issues Related to the Application of FASB Statements No. 71 and 101" specifies that SFAS 71 should be discontinued at a date no later than when the effects of a transition to competition plan for all or a portion of the entity subject to such plan are reasonably determinable. Additionally, EITF 97-4 promulgates that regulatory assets to be recovered through cash flows derived from another portion of the entity that continues to apply SFAS 71 should not be written off; rather, they should be considered regulatory assets of the segment that will continue to apply SFAS 71.

                See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of transition to competition activity in the retail regulatory jurisdictions served by the domestic utility companies. Only Texas has a currently enacted retail open access law, but Entergy believes that significant issues remain to be addressed by regulators, and the enacted law does not provide sufficient detail to reasonably determine the impact on Entergy Gulf States' regulated operations.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

                Entergy considers all unrestricted highly liquid debt instruments with an original or remaining maturity of three months or less at date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Investments with original maturities of more than three months are classified as other temporary investments on the balance sheet.

Investments

                Entergy applies the provisions of SFAS 115, "Accounting for Investments for Certain Debt and Equity Securities," in accounting for investments in decommissioning trust funds. As a result, Entergy records the decommissioning trust funds at their fair value on the consolidated balance sheet. As of December 31, 2002 and 2001, the fair value of the securities held in such funds differs from the amounts deposited plus the earnings on the deposits by ($24) million and $93 million, respectively. In accordance with the regulatory treatment for decommissioning trust funds, the domestic utility companies have recorded an offsetting amount of unrealized gains/(losses) on investment securities in accumulated depreciation. For the nonregulated portion of River Bend, Entergy Gulf States has recorded an offsetting amount of unrealized gains/(losses) in other deferred credits. System Energy's offsetting amount of unrealized gains/(losses) on investment securities is in other regulatory liabilities.

                Decommissioning trust funds for Pilgrim, Indian Point 2, and Vermont Yankee do not receive regulatory treatment. Accordingly, unrealized gains and losses recorded on the assets in these trust funds are recognized as a separate component of shareholders' equity because these assets are classified as available for sale.

Equity Method Investees

                Entergy owns investments that are accounted for under the equity method of accounting because Entergy's ownership level results in significant influence, but not control, over the investee and its operations. Entergy records its share of earnings or losses of the investee based on the change during the period in the estimated liquidation value of the investment, assuming that the investee's assets were to be liquidated at book value. Entergy discontinues the recognition of losses on equity investments when its share of losses equals or exceeds its carrying amount of investee plus any advances made or commitments to provide additional financial support. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding Entergy's equity method investments.

Derivative Financial Instruments and Commodity Derivatives

                Entergy implemented SFAS 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities" on January 1, 2001. The statement requires that all derivatives be recognized in the balance sheet, either as assets or liabilities, at fair value. The changes in the fair value of derivatives are recorded each period in current earnings or other comprehensive income, depending on whether a derivative is designated as part of a hedge transaction and, if it is, the type of hedge transaction.

                For cash-flow hedge transactions in which Entergy is hedging the variability of cash flows related to a variable-rate asset, liability, or forecasted transaction, changes in the fair value of the derivative instrument are reported in other comprehensive income. The gains and losses on the derivative instrument that are reported in other comprehensive income are reclassified as earnings in the periods in which earnings are impacted by the variability of the cash flows of the hedged item. The ineffective portions of all hedges are recognized in current-period earnings.

                Contracts for commodities that will be delivered in quantities expected to be used or sold in the ordinary course of business, including certain purchases and sales of power and fuel, are not classified as derivatives. Revenues and expenses from these contracts are reported on a gross basis in the appropriate revenue and expense categories as the commodities are received or delivered.

                Effective January 1, 2001, Entergy recorded a net-of-tax cumulative-effect-type adjustment of approximately $18.0 million reducing accumulated other comprehensive income to recognize, at fair value, all derivative instruments that are designated as cash-flow hedging instruments, primarily interest rate swaps and foreign currency forward contracts related to Entergy's competitive businesses. Effective October 1, 2001, Entergy recorded an additional net-of-tax cumulative-effect-type adjustment that increased net income by approximately $23.5 million. This adjustment resulted from the implementation of an interpretation of SFAS 133 that requires fuel supply agreements with volumetric optionality to be classified as derivative instruments. The agreement that resulted in the adjustment is in the Energy Commodity Services segment and was disposed of in the Damhead Creek sale in December 2002.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

                Entergy periodically reviews long-lived assets held in all of its business segments whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that recoverability of these assets is uncertain. Generally, the determination of recoverability is based on the undiscounted net cash flows expected to result from such operations and assets. Projected net cash flows depend on the future operating costs associated with the assets, the efficiency and availability of the assets and generating units, and the future market and price for energy over the remaining life of the assets. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for discussion of current year asset impairments in the Energy Commodity Services segment.

River Bend AFUDC

                The River Bend AFUDC gross-up represents the incremental difference imputed by the LPSC between the AFUDC actually recorded by Entergy Gulf States on a net-of-tax basis during the construction of River Bend and what the AFUDC would have been on a pre-tax basis. The imputed amount was only calculated on that portion of River Bend that the LPSC allowed in rate base and is being amortized over the estimated remaining economic life of River Bend.

Transition to Competition Liabilities

                In conjunction with electric utility industry restructuring activity in Texas, regulatory mechanisms were established to mitigate potential stranded costs. Texas restructuring legislation allows depreciation on transmission and distribution assets to be directed toward generation assets. The liability recorded as a result of this mechanism is classified as "transition to competition" deferred credits.

Reacquired Debt

                The premiums and costs associated with reacquired debt of the domestic utility companies and System Energy (except that portion allocable to the deregulated operations of Entergy Gulf States) are being amortized over the life of the related new issuances, in accordance with ratemaking treatment.

Foreign Currency Translation

                All assets and liabilities of Entergy's foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate in effect at the end of the period. Revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates prevailing during the period. The resulting translation adjustments are reflected in a separate component of shareholders' equity. Current exchange rates are used for U.S. dollar disclosures of future obligations denominated in foreign currencies.

New Accounting Pronouncement

                SFAS 143, which was implemented in the first quarter of 2003, requires the recording of liabilities for all legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the normal operation of those assets. These liabilities will be recorded at their fair values (which are likely to be the present values of the estimated future cash outflows) in the period in which they are incurred, with an accompanying addition to the recorded cost of the long-lived asset. The asset retirement obligation will be accreted each year through a charge to expense, to reflect the time value of money for this present value obligation. The amounts added to the carrying amounts of the long-lived assets will be depreciated over the useful lives of the assets. The net effect of implementing this standard for Entergy's regulated utilities will be recorded as a regulatory asset or liability, with no resulting impact on Entergy's net income. The implementation of SFAS 143 for the portion of River Bend not subject to cost-based ratemaking is expected to decrease earnings by approximately $25 million as a result of a one-time cumulative effect of accounting change. For the Non-Utility Nuclear business, the implementation of SFAS 143 is expected to result in a decrease in liabilities of approximately $520 million as a result of the discounting methodology required by SFAS 143, assets are expected to decrease in 2003 by approximately $360 million, and earnings are expected to increase by approximately $160 million as a result of a one-time cumulative effect of accounting change.

 

NOTE 2. RATE AND REGULATORY MATTERS

Electric Industry Restructuring and the Continued Application of SFAS 71

                Although Arkansas and Texas enacted retail open access laws, the retail open access law in Arkansas has now been repealed. Retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' service territory in Texas has been delayed. Entergy believes that significant issues remain to be addressed by regulators, and the enacted law in Texas does not provide sufficient detail to allow Entergy Gulf States to reasonably determine the impact on Entergy Gulf States' regulated operations. Entergy therefore continues to apply regulatory accounting principles to the retail operations of all of the domestic utility companies. Following is a summary of the status of retail open access in the domestic utility companies' retail service territories.

 

Jurisdiction

Status of Retail Open Access

% of Entergy's
2002 Revenues Derived from
Retail Electric Utility Operations
in the Jurisdiction

Arkansas

Retail open access legislation was repealed in February 2003.

14.5%

Texas

Implementation delayed in Entergy Gulf States' service area in a settlement approved by the PUCT. Retail open access not likely before the first quarter of 2004. Status is discussed further below.

10.4%

Louisiana

The LPSC has deferred pursuing retail open access, pending developments at the federal level and in other states.

33.5%

Mississippi

The MPSC has recommended not pursuing open access at this time.

10.6%

New Orleans

The Council has taken no action on Entergy New Orleans' proposal filed in 1997.

5%

                Retail open access commenced in portions of Texas on January 1, 2002. The staff of the PUCT filed a petition to delay retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' service area, and Entergy Gulf States reached a settlement agreement with the PUCT to delay retail open access until at least September 15, 2002. In September 2002, the PUCT ordered Entergy Gulf States to file on January 24, 2003 a proposal for an interim solution (retail open access without a FERC-approved RTO) if it appears by January 15, 2003 that a FERC-approved RTO will not be functional by January 1, 2004. On January 24, 2003, Entergy Gulf States filed its proposal, which among other elements, includes:

  • the recommendation that retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory, including corporate unbundling, occur by January 1, 2004, or else be delayed until at least January 1, 2007. If retail open access is delayed past January 1, 2004, Entergy Gulf States seeks authorization to separate into two bundled utilities, one subject to the retail jurisdiction of the PUCT and one subject to the retail jurisdiction of the LPSC.
  • the recommendation that Entergy's transmission organization, possibly with the oversight of another entity, will continue to serve as the transmission authority for purposes of retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' service territory.
  • the recommendation that decision points be identified that would require, prior to January 1, 2004, the PUCT's determination, based upon objective criteria, whether to proceed with further efforts toward retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory.
  • the PUCT is expected to consider this proposal on March 21, 2003.

This proposal takes into account that other regulatory approvals, including that of the LPSC and the SEC, are necessary prior to January 1, 2004.

Regulatory Assets

Other Regulatory Assets

                The domestic utility companies and System Energy are subject to the provisions of SFAS 71, "Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation." Regulatory assets represent probable future revenues associated with certain costs that are expected to be recovered from customers through the ratemaking process. In addition to the regulatory assets that are specifically disclosed on the face of the balance sheets, the table below provides detail of "Other regulatory assets" that are included on the balance sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 (in millions).

 

 

Deferred fuel costs

The domestic utility companies are allowed to recover certain fuel and purchased power costs through fuel mechanisms included in electric rates that are recorded as fuel cost recovery revenues. The difference between revenues collected and the current fuel and purchased power costs is recorded as "Deferred fuel costs" on the domestic utility companies' financial statements. The table below shows the amount of deferred fuel costs as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 that has been or will be recovered or (refunded) through the fuel mechanisms of the domestic utility companies.

 

 

2002

2001

 

(In Millions)

Entergy Arkansas $ (42.6 )

$ 17.2 

Entergy Gulf States

$ 100.6 

$ 126.7 

Entergy Louisiana

$ (25.6 )

$ (67.5 )

Entergy Mississippi

$ 38.2 

$ 106.2 

Entergy New Orleans

$ (14.9 )

$ (10.2 )

Entergy Arkansas

                Entergy Arkansas' rate schedules include an energy cost recovery rider to recover fuel and purchased energy costs in monthly bills. The rider utilizes prior year energy costs and projected energy sales for the twelve month period commencing on April 1 of each year to develop an annual energy cost rate. The energy cost rate includes a true-up adjustment reflecting the over-recovery or under-recovery, including carrying charges, of the energy cost for the prior calendar year.

                As a result of reduced fuel and purchased power costs in 2001 and the accumulated over-recovery of 2001 energy costs, Entergy Arkansas decreased the energy cost rate effective April 2002. In September 2002, Entergy Arkansas filed and the APSC approved an interim revision to the energy cost rate effective October 2002 through March 2003. Entergy Arkansas reduced the energy cost rate to offset the accumulated over-recovery of energy costs through June 2002 and the projected over-recovery through December 2002. The revised energy cost rate will be effective through March 2003 when the annual energy cost rate redetermination will be filed for the period April 2003 through March 2004.

Entergy Gulf States

                In the Texas jurisdiction, Entergy Gulf States' rate schedules include a fixed fuel factor to recover fuel and purchased power costs, including carrying charges, not recovered in base rates. Under current methodology, semi-annual revisions of the fixed fuel factor are made in March and September based on the market price of natural gas. Entergy Gulf States will likely continue to use this methodology until the start of retail open access. The amounts collected under Entergy Gulf States' fixed fuel factor and any interim surcharge implemented until the date retail open access commences are subject to fuel reconciliation proceedings before the PUCT. In the Texas jurisdiction, Entergy Gulf States' deferred electric fuel costs are $91.8 million as of December 31, 2002, which includes the following:

Interim surcharge

 

$53.9 million

Items to be addressed as part of unbundling

 

$29.0 million

Imputed capacity charges

 

$ 8.6 million

Other

 

$ 0.3 million

The PUCT has ordered that the imputed capacity charges be excluded from fuel rates and therefore recovered through base rates. It is uncertain, however, when or if a base rate proceeding before the PUCT will be initiated. The current settlement agreement delaying retail open access in Texas requires a rate freeze during the delay period. If Entergy Gulf States goes to retail open access without a Texas base rate proceeding, it is possible that Entergy Gulf States will not be allowed to recover these imputed capacity charges.

                In January 2001, Entergy Gulf States filed a fuel reconciliation case covering the period from March 1999 through August 2000. Entergy Gulf States was reconciling approximately $583.0 million of fuel and purchased power costs. As part of this filing, Entergy Gulf States requested authority to collect $28.0 million, plus interest, of under-recovered fuel and purchased power costs. The PUCT decided in August 2002 to reduce Entergy Gulf States' request to approximately $6.3 million, including interest through July 31, 2002. Approximately $4.7 million of the total reduction to the requested surcharge relates to nuclear fuel costs that the PUCT deferred ruling on at this time. In October 2002, Entergy Gulf States appealed the PUCT's final order in Texas District Court. In its appeal, Entergy Gulf States is challenging the PUCT's disallowance of approximately $4.2 million related to imputed capacity costs and its disallowance related to costs for energy delivered from the 30% non-regulated share of River Bend. No assurance can be given as to the final outcome of this proceeding.

                In September 2002, Entergy Gulf States filed an application with the PUCT for an interim surcharge to collect $53.9 million, including interest and $6.3 million from the January 2001 fuel reconciliation proceeding discussed above, of under-recovered fuel and purchased power expenses incurred from March 2002 through August 2002. The PUCT authorized collection of the amounts requested over an 11-month period beginning in February 2003. Expenses collected through this interim surcharge, with the exception of expenses already reconciled in prior proceedings, are subject to review in a future fuel reconciliation proceeding.

Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, and Entergy New Orleans

                The Louisiana jurisdiction of Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, and Entergy New Orleans recover electric fuel costs on a two-month lag. The Louisiana jurisdiction of Entergy Gulf States' and Entergy New Orleans' gas rate schedules include estimates for the billing month adjusted by a surcharge or credit for deferred fuel expense arising from monthly reconciliations.

                In August 2000 the LPSC authorized its staff to initiate a proceeding to audit the fuel adjustment clause filings of Entergy Louisiana pursuant to a November 1997 LPSC general order. The time period that is the subject of the audit is January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2001. The LPSC staff has submitted several requests for information from Entergy Louisiana, and it is expected that the LPSC staff will issue its audit report in the spring of 2003, following which a procedural schedule will be established.

                In January 2003 the LPSC opened a docket to investigate the fuel adjustment clause practices of Entergy Gulf States and its affiliates. The investigation will include a review of the reasonableness of charges flowed by Entergy Gulf States through its fuel adjustment clause in Louisiana for the period subsequent to 1994. No assurance can be given at this time as to the timing or outcome of this proceeding.

Entergy Mississippi

                Entergy Mississippi's rate schedules include an energy cost recovery rider which is adjusted quarterly to reflect accumulated over- or under-recoveries from the second prior quarter. The deferred fuel balances as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 reflect the 24-month recovery of $136.7 million of under-recoveries that began in January 2001 as approved by the MPSC.

Retail Rate Proceedings

Filings with the APSC

March 2002 Settlement Agreement

                In May 2002, the APSC approved a settlement agreement submitted by Entergy Arkansas, the APSC staff, and the Arkansas Attorney General. Provisions of the agreement are discussed below under "Retail Rates," "Transition Cost Account," and "December 2000 Ice Storm Cost Recovery."

Retail Rates

                As discussed in "December 2000 Ice Storm Cost Recovery" below, Entergy Arkansas was scheduled to file a general rate proceeding in February 2002, in which Entergy Arkansas would have sought an increase in rates. The March 2002 settlement agreement states, however, that Entergy Arkansas will not file an application seeking to increase base rates prior to January 2003.

Transition Cost Account

                A 1997 settlement provided for the collection of earnings in excess of an 11% return on equity in a transition cost account (TCA) to offset stranded costs if retail open access were implemented. In May 2002, Entergy Arkansas filed its 2001 earnings evaluation report with the APSC. In June 2002, the APSC approved a contribution of $5.9 million to the TCA. A principal provision in the March 2002 settlement agreement was to offset $137.4 million of ice storm recovery costs with the TCA on a rate class basis. In accordance with the settlement agreement and following the APSC's approval of the 2001 earnings review, Entergy Arkansas filed to return $18.1 million of the TCA to certain large general service class customers that paid more into the TCA than their allocation of storm costs. The APSC approved the return of funds to the large general service customer class in the form of refund checks in August 2002. As part of the implementation of the March 2002 settlement agreement provisions, the TCA procedure ceased with the 2001 earnings evaluation.

December 2000 Ice Storm Cost Recovery

                In mid- and late December 2000, two separate ice storms left 226,000 and 212,500 Entergy Arkansas customers, respectively, without electric power in its service area. Entergy Arkansas filed a proposal to recover costs plus carrying charges associated with power restoration caused by the ice storms. In an order issued in June 2001, the APSC decided not to give final approval to Entergy's proposed storm cost recovery rider outside of a fully developed cost-of-service study in a general rate proceeding. The APSC action resulted in the deferral in 2001 of storm damage costs expensed in 2000 as reflected in Entergy Arkansas' financial statements.

                Entergy Arkansas filed its final storm damage cost determination, which reflected costs of approximately $195 million. In the March 2002 settlement, the parties agreed that $153 million of the ice storm costs would be classified as incremental ice storm expenses that can be offset against the TCA, and any excess of ice storm costs over the amount available in the TCA would be deferred and amortized over 30 years, although such excess costs were not allowed to be included as a separate component of rate base. The allocated ice storm expenses exceeded the available TCA funds by $15.8 million and was recorded as a regulatory asset in June 2002. Of the remaining ice storm costs, $32.2 million will be addressed through established ratemaking procedures, including $22.2 million classified as capital additions. $3.8 million of the ice storm costs will not be recovered through rates.

Filings with the PUCT and Texas Cities

Retail Rates

                Entergy Gulf States is operating in Texas under the terms of a June 1999 settlement agreement. The settlement provided for a base rate freeze that has remained in effect during the delay in implementation of retail open access in Entergy Gulf States' Texas service territory.

Recovery of River Bend Costs

                In March 1998, the PUCT disallowed recovery of $1.4 billion of company-wide abeyed River Bend plant costs, which have been held in abeyance since 1988. Entergy Gulf States appealed the PUCT's decision on this matter to the Travis County District Court in Texas. A 1999 settlement agreement limits potential recovery of the remaining plant asset to $115 million as of January 1, 2002, less depreciation after that date. Entergy Gulf States accordingly reduced the value of the plant asset in 1999. Entergy Gulf States has also agreed in a subsequent settlement that it will not seek recovery of the abeyed plant costs through any additional charge to Texas ratepayers. In an interim order approving this agreement, however, the PUCT recognized that any additional River Bend investment found prudent, subject to the $115 million cap, could be used as an offset against stranded benefits, should legislation be passed requiring Entergy Gulf States to return stranded benefits to retail customers.

                In April 2002, the Travis County District Court issued an order affirming the PUCT's order on remand disallowing recovery of the abeyed plant costs. Entergy Gulf States has appealed this ruling to the Third District Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals heard oral argument in November 2002 but has not yet issued a final decision. The financial statement impact of the retail rate settlement agreement on the remaining abeyed plant costs will ultimately depend on several factors, including the possible discontinuance of SFAS 71 accounting treatment for the Texas generation business, the determination of the market value of generation assets, and any future legislation in Texas addressing the pass-through or sharing of any stranded benefits with Texas ratepayers. While Entergy Gulf States expects to prevail in its lawsuit, no assurance can be given that additional reserves or write-offs will not be required in the future.

Filings with the LPSC

Annual Earnings Reviews (Entergy Gulf States)

                In December 2002, the LPSC approved a settlement between Entergy Gulf States and the LPSC staff pursuant to which Entergy Gulf States agreed to make a base rate refund of $16.3 million, including interest, and to implement a $22.1 million prospective base rate reduction effective January 2003. The settlement discharged any potential liability relating to remaining issues that arose in Entergy Gulf States' fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth post-merger earnings reviews. Entergy Gulf States made the refund in February 2003. In addition to resolving and discharging all liability associated with the fourth through eighth earnings reviews, the settlement provides that Entergy Gulf States shall be authorized to continue to reflect in rates a ROE of 11.1% until a different ROE is authorized by a final resolution disposing of all issues in the proceeding that was commenced with Entergy Gulf States' May 2002 filing.

                In May 2002, Entergy Gulf States filed its ninth and last required post-merger analysis with the LPSC. The filing included an earnings review filing for the 2001 test year that resulted in a rate decrease of $11.5 million, which was implemented effective June 2002. The filing also contained a prospective revenue requirement study based on the 2001 test year that shows that a prospective rate increase of approximately $21.7 million would be appropriate. Both components of the filing are subject to review by the LPSC and may result in changes in rates other than those sought in the filing. A procedural schedule has been adopted and hearings are scheduled for October 2003.

Formula Rate Plan Filings (Entergy Louisiana)

                In July 2002, the LPSC approved a settlement between Entergy Louisiana and the LPSC Staff in Entergy Louisiana's 2000 and 2001 formula rate plan proceedings. Entergy Louisiana agreed to a $5 million rate reduction effective August 2001. The prospective rate reduction was implemented beginning in August 2002 and the refund for the retroactive period occurred in September 2002. As part of the settlement, Entergy Louisiana's current rates, including its previously authorized ROE midpoint of 10.5%, remain in effect until changed pursuant to a new formula rate plan filing or a revenue requirement analysis to be filed by June 30, 2003.

                In May 1997, Entergy Louisiana made its second annual performance-based formula rate plan filing with the LPSC for the 1996 test year. This filing resulted in a rate reduction of approximately $54.5 million, which was implemented in July 1997. At the same time, rates were reduced by an additional $0.7 million and by an additional $2.9 million effective March 1998. Upon completion of the hearing process in December 1998, the LPSC issued an order requiring an additional rate reduction and refund based upon the LPSC's contention that it could interpret and enforce a FERC rate schedule. The resulting amounts were not quantified, although they are expected to be immaterial. Entergy Louisiana appealed this order and obtained a preliminary injunction pending a final decision on appeal. The Louisiana Supreme Court rendered a non-unanimous decision in April 2002 affirming the LPSC's order. Entergy Louisiana filed with the U.S. Supreme Court an application for writ of certiorari, which application was supported by an amicus curiae brief filed on behalf of the United States of America by the Solicitor General and the General Counsel and Solicitor for the FERC. The U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in January 2003, and the case will be argued during the last week of April 2003.

Filings with the MPSC

Formula Rate Plan Filings

                Pursuant to Entergy Mississippi's annual performance-based formula rate plan filing for the 2001 test year, the MPSC approved a stipulation between the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff and Entergy Mississippi. The stipulation provided for a $1.95 million rate increase effective in May 2002.

                In August 2002, Entergy Mississippi filed a rate case with the MPSC requesting a $68.8 million rate increase effective January 2003. Entergy Mississippi requested this increase as a result of capital investments and operation and maintenance expenditures necessary to replace and maintain aging electric facilities and to improve reliability and customer service. In December 2002, the MPSC issued a final order approving a joint stipulation entered into by Entergy Mississippi and the Mississippi Public Utilities Staff in October 2002. The final order results in a $48.2 million rate increase, or about a 5.3% increase in overall retail revenues, which is based on an ROE of 11.75%. The order endorsed a new power management rider schedule designed to more efficiently collect capacity portions of purchased power costs. Also, the order provides for improvements in the return on equity formula and more robust performance measures for Entergy Mississippi's formula rate plan. Under the provisions of the order, Entergy Mississippi will make its next formula rate plan filing during March 2004.

Filings with the Council

Rate Proceedings

                In May 2002, Entergy New Orleans filed a cost of service study and revenue requirement filing with the City Council for the 2001 test year. The filing indicated that a revenue deficiency exists and that a $28.9 million electric rate increase and a $15.3 million gas rate increase are appropriate. Additionally, Entergy New Orleans has proposed a $6.0 million public benefit fund. The City Council has established a procedural schedule for consideration of the filing and hearings are scheduled to begin in May 2003. The procedural schedule provides for the City Council's decision with respect to Entergy New Orleans' filing by June 15, 2003.   On March 13, 2003, Entergy New Orleans and the Advisors to the City Council presented to the City Council an agreement in principle that, if approved by the City Council, would resolve the proceeding.  The agreement in principle, if approved by the City Council, would result in a $30.2 million base rate increase for Entergy New Orleans.  A procedural schedule for the City Council's consideration of the agreement in principle has not been established.  Entergy New Orleans' rates will remain at their current level until the earlier of a decision in the proceeding or June 15, 2003.

Natural Gas

                In a resolution adopted in August 2001, the City Council ordered Entergy New Orleans to account for $36 million of certain natural gas costs charged to its gas distribution customers from July 1997 through May 2001. The resolution suggests that refunds may be due to the gas distribution customers if Entergy New Orleans cannot account satisfactorily for these costs. Entergy New Orleans filed a response to the City Council in September 2001, which is still being evaluated by the City Council. Entergy New Orleans has documented a full reconciliation for the natural gas costs during that period. Entergy New Orleans has filed for a hearing on this matter. The presentation made to the City Council on March 13, 2003 regarding the agreement in principle that would resolve Entergy New Orleans' rate proceeding also included proposed terms for resolution of this proceeding, if approved by the City Council.  A procedural schedule for consideration of the agreement has not been established.  The ultimate outcome of the proceeding cannot be predicted at this time.

Fuel Adjustment Clause Litigation

                In April 1999, a group of ratepayers filed a complaint against Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Corporation, Entergy Services, and Entergy Power in state court in Orleans Parish purportedly on behalf of all Entergy New Orleans ratepayers. The plaintiffs seek treble damages for alleged injuries arising from the defendants' alleged violations of Louisiana's antitrust laws in connection with certain costs passed on to ratepayers in Entergy New Orleans' fuel adjustment filings with the City Council. In particular, plaintiffs allege that Entergy New Orleans improperly included certain costs in the calculation of fuel charges and that Entergy New Orleans imprudently purchased high-cost fuel from other Entergy affiliates. Plaintiffs allege that Entergy New Orleans and the other defendant Entergy companies conspired to make these purchases to the detriment of Entergy New Orleans' ratepayers and to the benefit of Entergy's shareholders, in violation of Louisiana's antitrust laws. Plaintiffs also seek to recover interest and attorneys' fees. Entergy filed exceptions to the plaintiffs' allegations, asserting, among other things, that jurisdiction over these issues rests with the City Council and FERC. If necessary, at the appropriate time, Entergy will also raise its defenses to the antitrust claims. At present, the suit in state court is stayed by stipulation of the parties.

                Plaintiffs also filed this complaint with the City Council in order to initiate a review by the City Council of the plaintiffs' allegations and to force restitution to ratepayers of all costs they allege were improperly and imprudently included in the fuel adjustment filings. Testimony was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs in this proceeding in April 2000 and has been supplemented. The testimony, as supplemented, asserts, among other things, that Entergy New Orleans and other defendants have engaged in fuel procurement and power purchasing practices and included costs in Entergy New Orleans' fuel adjustment that could have resulted in New Orleans customers being overcharged by more than $100 million over a period of years. In June 2001, the City Council's advisors filed testimony on these issues in which they allege that Entergy New Orleans ratepayers may have been overcharged by more than $32 million, the vast majority of which is reflected in the plaintiffs' claim. However, it is not clear precisely what periods and damages are being alleged in the proceeding. Entergy intends to defend this matter vigorously, both in court and before the City Council. Hearings were held in February and March 2002. The parties have submitted post-hearing briefs and the matter has been submitted to the City Council for a decision. In October 2002, the plaintiffs filed a motion to re-open the evidentiary record, or in the alternative, a motion for a new trial seeking to re-open the record to accept certain testimony filed by the City Council advisors in a separate proceeding at the FERC. The ultimate outcome of the lawsuit and the City Council proceeding cannot be predicted at this time.

System Energy's 1995 Rate Proceeding

                System Energy applied to FERC in May 1995 for a rate increase, and implemented the increase in December 1995. The request sought changes to System Energy's rate schedule, including increases in the revenue requirement associated with decommissioning costs, the depreciation rate, and the rate of return on common equity. The request proposed a 13% return on common equity. In July 2000, FERC approved a rate of return of 10.58% for the period December 1995 to the date of FERC's decision, and prospectively adjusted the rate of return to 10.94% from the date of FERC's decision. FERC's decision also changed other aspects of System Energy's proposed rate schedule, including the depreciation rate and decommissioning costs and their methodology. FERC accepted System Energy's compliance tariff in November 2001. System Energy made refunds to the domestic utility companies in December 2001.

                In accordance with regulatory accounting principles, during the pendency of the case, System Energy recorded reserves for potential refunds against its revenues. Upon the order becoming final, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and System Energy recorded entries to spread the impacts of FERC's order to the various revenue, expense, asset, and liability accounts affected, as if the order had been in place since commencement of the case in 1995. System Energy also recorded an additional reserve amount against its revenue, to adjust its estimate of the impact of the order, and recorded additional interest expense on that reserve. System Energy also recorded reductions in its depreciation and its decommissioning expenses to reflect the lower levels in FERC's order, and reduced tax expense affected by the order.

                Entergy Arkansas refunded $54.3 million, including interest, through the issuance of refund checks in March 2002 as approved by the APSC.

                Entergy Louisiana refunded $4.9 million, including interest, to its customers through a credit on the September 2002 bills as approved by the LPSC.

                Entergy Mississippi's allocation of the proposed System Energy wholesale rate increase was $21.6 million annually. In July 1995, Entergy Mississippi filed a schedule with the MPSC that deferred the retail recovery of the System Energy rate increase. The deferral plan, which was approved by the MPSC, began in December 1995, the effective date of the System Energy rate increase, and was effective until the issuance of the final order by FERC. Entergy Mississippi revised the deferral plan two times during the pendency of the System Energy proceeding. As a result of the final resolution of the FERC order and in accordance with Entergy Mississippi's second revised deferral plan, refunds to Entergy Mississippi from System Energy, including interest, have been credited against deferral balances and a refund of the remaining $14.8 million in excess of the deferral balances were included as credits to the amounts billed to Entergy Mississippi's customers in October 2001 through September 2002 under its Grand Gulf Riders.

                Entergy New Orleans' allocation of the proposed System Energy wholesale rate increase was $11.1 million annually. In February 1996, Entergy New Orleans filed a plan with the Council to defer 50% of the amount of the System Energy rate increase. In December 2001, the Council approved a refund to customers. The total amount of the refund to Entergy New Orleans' customers was $43 million. In anticipation of the FERC order, Entergy New Orleans advanced the refunding of $10 million in February 2001 to customers to assist with unexpected high energy bills. The total refund was also reduced by an additional $6 million which was used for the establishment of a public benefits and payments assistance program. The remaining $27 million was refunded through the issuance of refund checks during the first quarter of 2002.

FERC Settlement

                In November 1994, FERC approved an agreement settling a long-standing dispute involving income tax allocation procedures of System Energy. In accordance with the agreement, System Energy has been refunding a total of approximately $62 million, plus interest, to Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans through June 2004. System Energy also reclassified from utility plant to other deferred debits approximately $81 million of other Grand Gulf 1 costs. Although such costs are excluded from rate base, System Energy is amortizing and recovering these costs over a 10-year period. Interest on the $62 million refund and the loss of the return on the $81 million of other Grand Gulf 1 costs is reducing Entergy's and System Energy's net income by approximately $10 million annually.

 

NOTE 3. INCOME TAXES

                Income tax expenses for 2002, 2001, and 2000 consist of the following (in thousands):

(a) The actual cash taxes paid/(received) were $57,856 in 2002, ($113,466) in 2001, and $345,361 in 2000. Entergy Louisiana's mark to market tax accounting election has significantly reduced taxes paid in 2001 and 2002. For a more detailed discussion of the tax accounting election, see the discussion of Entergy Louisiana Tax Accounting Election in Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis section.

                Total income taxes differ from the amounts computed by applying the statutory income tax rate to income before taxes. The reasons for the differences for the years 2002, 2001, and 2000 are (in thousands):

 

                Significant components of net deferred and noncurrent accrued tax liabilities as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 are as follows (in thousands):

                The 2002 valuation allowance is provided against UK capital loss and UK net operating loss carryforwards, which can be utilized against future UK taxable income. For UK tax purposes, these carryforwards do not expire.

                The 2001 valuation allowance is provided primarily against foreign tax credit carryforwards, which can be utilized against future United States taxes on foreign source income. If these carryforwards are not utilized, they will expire between 2002 and 2006.

                At December 31, 2002, Entergy had $11.2 million of indefinitely reinvested undistributed earnings from subsidiary companies outside the U.S. Upon distribution of these earnings in the form of dividends or otherwise, Entergy could be subject to U.S. income taxes (subject to foreign tax credits) and withholding taxes payable to various foreign countries.

 

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

                Entergy Corporation has in place a 364-day bank credit facility with a borrowing capacity of $1.450 billion, of which $535 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2002. The weighted-average interest rate on Entergy's outstanding borrowings under this facility as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 was 2.5% and 3.2%, respectively. The commitment fee for this facility is currently 0.20% of the line amount. Commitment fees and interest rates on loans under the credit facility can fluctuate depending on the senior debt ratings of the domestic utility companies.

                Although the Entergy Corporation credit facility expires in May 2003, Entergy has the discretionary option to extend the period to repay the amount then outstanding for an additional 364-day term. Because of this option, which Entergy intends to exercise if it does not renew the credit line or obtain an alternative source of financing, the debt outstanding under the credit line is reflected in long-term debt on the balance sheet. The credit line is reflected as notes payable at December 31, 2001. Entergy Corporation's facility requires it to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization. If Entergy's debt ratio exceeds this limit, or if Entergy or the domestic utility companies default on other credit facilities or are in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, an acceleration of the facility's maturity may occur.

                The short-term borrowings of Entergy's subsidiaries are limited to amounts authorized by the SEC. The current limits authorized are effective through November 30, 2004. In addition to borrowing from commercial banks, Entergy's subsidiaries are authorized to borrow from the Entergy System Money Pool (money pool). The money pool is an inter-company borrowing arrangement designed to reduce Entergy's subsidiaries' dependence on external short-term borrowings. Borrowings from the money pool and external borrowings combined may not exceed the SEC authorized limits. As of December 31, 2002, Entergy's subsidiaries' authorized limit was $1.6 billion and the outstanding borrowing from the money pool was $61.5 million. There were no borrowings outstanding from external sources.

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


Company

 


Expiration Date

 

Amount of Facility

 

Amount Drawn as of Dec. 31, 2002

             

Entergy Arkansas

 

May 2003

 

$63 million

 

-

Entergy Louisiana

 

May 2003

 

$15 million

 

-

Entergy Mississippi

 

May 2003

 

$25 million

 

-

The facilities have variable interest rates and the average commitment fee is 0.13%.

 

NOTE 5. PREFERRED AND COMMON STOCK

Preferred Stock

                The number of shares authorized and outstanding and dollar value of preferred stock for Entergy Corporation subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 are presented below. Only the Entergy Gulf States series "with sinking fund" contain mandatory redemption requirements. All other series are redeemable at Entergy's option.

                All outstanding preferred stock is cumulative.

                Entergy Gulf States has annual sinking fund requirements of $3.45 million through 2007 for its preferred stock outstanding.

  1. Represents weighted-average annualized rate for 2002.
  2. Fair values were determined using bid prices reported by dealer markets and by nationally recognized investment banking firms. There is additional disclosure of fair value of financial instruments in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.


Common Stock

                Treasury stock activity for Entergy for 2002 and 2001:

                Entergy Corporation reissues treasury shares to meet the requirements of the Stock Plan for Outside Directors (Directors' Plan), the Equity Ownership Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (Equity Ownership Plan), the Equity Awards Plan, and certain other stock benefit plans. The Directors' Plan awards to non-employee directors a portion of their compensation in the form of a fixed number of shares of Entergy Corporation common stock.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

                Entergy has two plans that grant stock options, equity awards, and incentive awards to key employees of the Entergy subsidiaries. The Equity Ownership Plan is a shareholder-approved stock-based compensation plan. The Equity Awards Plan is a Board-approved stock-based compensation plan. Stock options are granted at exercise prices not less than market value on the date of grant. The majority of options granted in 2002, 2001, and 2000 will become exercisable in equal amounts on each of the first three anniversaries of the date of grant. Options are forfeited if they are not exercised within ten years from the date of the grant.

                Beginning in 2001, Entergy began granting most of the equity awards and incentive awards earned under its stock benefit plans in the form of performance units, which are equal to the cash value of shares of Entergy Corporation common stock at the time of payment. In addition to the potential for equivalent share appreciation or depreciation, performance units will earn the cash equivalent of the dividends paid during the performance period applicable to each plan. The amount of performance units awarded will not reduce the amount of securities remaining under the current authorizations. The costs of equity and incentive awards, given either as company stock or performance units, are charged to income over the period of the grant or restricted period, as appropriate. In 2002, 2001, and 2000, $28 million, $14 million, and $17 million, respectively, was charged to compensation expense.

                The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following stock option weighted-average assumptions:

       

 

2002

2001

2000

Stock price volatility

27.2%

26.3%

24.4%

Expected term in years

5

5

5

Risk-free interest rate

4.2%

4.9%

6.6%

Dividend yield

3.2%

3.4%

5.2%

Dividend payment

$1.32

$1.26

$1.20

 

Stock option transactions are summarized as follows:

The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2002:

                During the first quarter of 2003, an additional 7,196,699 options became exercisable with a weighted-average exercise price of $34.71.

                Entergy sponsors the Savings Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries (Savings Plan). The Savings Plan is a defined contribution plan covering eligible employees of Entergy and its subsidiaries. The Savings Plan provides that the employing Entergy subsidiary may:

    • make matching contributions to the plan in an amount equal to 75% of the participants' basic contributions, up to 6% of their salaries, in shares of Entergy Corporation common stock if the employees direct their company-matching contribution to the purchase of Entergy Corporation's common stock; or
    • make matching contributions in the amount of 50% of the participants' basic contributions, up to 6% of their salaries, if the employees direct their company-matching contribution to other investment funds.

Entergy's subsidiaries contributed $29.6 million in 2002, $25.4 million in 2001, and $16.1 million in 2000 to the Savings Plan.

 

NOTE 6. COMPANY-OBLIGATED REDEEMABLE PREFERRED SECURITIES

                Entergy Louisiana Capital I, Entergy Arkansas Capital I, and Entergy Gulf States Capital I (Trusts) were established as financing subsidiaries of Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Arkansas, and Entergy Gulf States, respectively, for the purpose of issuing common and preferred securities. The Trusts issue Cumulative Quarterly Income Preferred Securities (Preferred Securities) to the public and issue common securities to their parent companies. Proceeds from such issues are used to purchase junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (Debentures) from the parent company. The Debentures held by each Trust are its only assets. Each Trust uses interest payments received on the Debentures owned by it to make cash distributions on the Preferred Securities.





Trusts

 




Date
of Issue

 



Preferred
Securities
Issued

 



Common
Securities Issued

 


Interest Rate Securities/
Debentures

 


Trust's
Investment
 in
Debentures

 

Fair Market Value of Preferred Securities at
12-31-02

       

(In Millions)

     

(In Millions)

                         

Louisiana Capital I

 

7-16-96

 

$70.0

 

$2.2

 

9.00%

 

$72.2

 

$70.8

Arkansas Capital I

 

8-14-96

 

$60.0

 

$1.9

 

8.50%

 

$61.9

 

$60.1

Gulf States Capital I

 

1-28-97

 

$85.0

 

$2.6

 

8.75%

 

$87.6

 

$85.3

                The Preferred Securities of the Trusts mature in the years 2045 and 2046. The Preferred Securities are currently redeemable at 100% of their principal amount at the option of Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Arkansas, or Entergy Gulf States. Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Arkansas, and Entergy Gulf States have, pursuant to certain agreements, fully and unconditionally guaranteed payment of distributions on the Preferred Securities issued by their respective Trusts. Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Arkansas, and Entergy Gulf States are the owners of all of the common securities of their individual Trusts, which constitute 3% of each Trust's total capital.

 

NOTE 7. LONG - TERM DEBT

Long-term debt as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 consisted of:

 

  1. Consists of pollution control revenue bonds and environmental revenue bonds, certain series of which are secured by non-interest bearing first mortgage bonds.
  2. The bonds are subject to mandatory tender for purchase from the holders at 100% of the principal amount outstanding on September 1, 2005 and will then be remarketed.
  3. The bonds are subject to mandatory tender for purchase from the holders at 100% of the principal amount outstanding on September 1, 2004 and will then be remarketed.
  4. The bonds are subject to mandatory tender for purchase from the holders at 100% of the principal amount outstanding on October 1, 2003 and will then be remarketed.
  5. On June 1, 2002, Entergy Louisiana remarketed $55 million St. Charles Parish Pollution Control Revenue Refunding Bonds due 2030, resetting the interest rate to 4.9% through May 2005.
  6. The bonds are subject to mandatory tender for purchase from the holders at 100% of the principal amount outstanding on June 1, 2005 and will then be remarketed.
  7. The fair value excludes lease obligations, long-term DOE obligations, and other long-term debt and includes debt due within one year. It is determined using bid prices reported by dealer markets and by nationally recognized investment banking firms.

                The annual long-term debt maturities (excluding lease obligations) and annual cash sinking fund requirements for debt outstanding as of December 31, 2002, for the next five years are as follows (in thousands):

2003

$1,150,786

2004

$925,005

2005

$540,372

2006

$139,952

2007

$475,288

Not included are other sinking fund requirements of approximately $30.2 million annually, which may be satisfied by cash or by certification of property additions at the rate of 167% of such requirements.

                In December 2002, when the Damhead Creek project was sold, the buyer of the project assumed all obligations under the Damhead Creek credit facilities and the Damhead Creek interest rate swap agreements.

                In November 2000, Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business purchased the FitzPatrick and Indian Point 3 power plants in a seller-financed transaction. Entergy issued notes to NYPA with seven annual installments of approximately $108 million commencing one year from the date of the closing, and eight annual installments of $20 million commencing eight years from the date of the closing. These notes do not have a stated interest rate, but have an implicit interest rate of 4.8%. In accordance with the purchase agreement with NYPA, the purchase of Indian Point 2 resulted in Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business becoming liable to NYPA for an additional $10 million per year for 10 years, beginning in September 2003. This liability was recorded upon the purchase of Indian Point 2 in September 2001.

                Covenants in the Entergy Corporation 7.75% notes require it to maintain a consolidated debt ratio of 65% or less of its total capitalization. If Entergy's debt ratio exceeds this limit, or if Entergy or certain of the domestic utility companies default on other credit facilities or are in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, an acceleration of the facility's maturity may occur.

                In January 2003, Entergy paid in full, at maturity, the outstanding debt relating to the Top of Iowa wind project.

Capital Funds Agreement

                Pursuant to an agreement with certain creditors, Entergy Corporation has agreed to supply System Energy with sufficient capital to:

    • maintain System Energy's equity capital at a minimum of 35% of its total capitalization (excluding short-term debt);
    • permit the continued commercial operation of Grand Gulf 1;
    • pay in full all System Energy indebtedness for borrowed money when due; and
    • enable System Energy to make payments on specific System Energy debt, under supplements to the agreement assigning System Energy's rights in the agreement as security for the specific debt.

               

 

NOTE 8. DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

                Provisions within the Articles of Incorporation or pertinent indentures and various other agreements relating to the long-term debt and preferred stock of certain of Entergy Corporation's subsidiaries restrict the payment of cash dividends or other distributions on their common and preferred stock. As of December 31, 2002, Entergy Arkansas and Entergy Mississippi had restricted retained earnings unavailable for distribution to Entergy Corporation of $296.1 million and $36.2 million, respectively. Additionally, PUHCA prohibits Entergy Corporation's subsidiaries from making loans or advances to Entergy Corporation. In 2002, Entergy Corporation received dividend payments totaling $618.4 million from subsidiaries. In addition, Entergy Louisiana repurchased $120 million of its common shares from Entergy Corporation in 2002.

 

NOTE 9. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

                Entergy is involved in a number of legal, tax, and regulatory proceedings before various courts, regulatory commissions, and governmental agencies in the ordinary course of its business. While management is unable to predict the outcome of such proceedings, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on Entergy's results of operations, cash flows, or financial condition.

Capital Requirements and Financing

                Entergy plans to spend approximately $3.4 billion on construction and other capital investments during 2003-2005. This plan reflects capital required to support existing businesses as well as the approval by the Board of the ANO 1 steam generator replacement project. The estimated capital expenditures are subject to periodic review and modification and may vary based on the ongoing effects of business restructuring, regulatory constraints, business opportunities, market volatility, economic trends, and the ability to access capital. Entergy's estimated construction and other capital expenditures by year for 2003-2005 are as follows (in millions):

Planned construction and capital investment

2003

2004

2005

U.S. Utility

$924

$915

$965

Non-Utility Nuclear

$201

$142

$109

Energy Commodity Services

$24

$76

$3

Other

$7

$7

$9

                The U.S. Utility will focus its planned spending on projects that will support continued reliability improvements and customer growth.

                Non-Utility Nuclear will focus its planned spending on routine construction projects and power uprates.

                Energy Commodity Services expenditures will primarily be on a merchant power plant project currently under construction and a $73 million cash contribution to Entergy-Koch in January 2004.

                The planned construction and capital investments do not include potential investments in new businesses or assets.

                Entergy will also require $2.6 billion during the period 2003-2005 to meet long-term debt and preferred stock maturities and cash sinking fund requirements. Entergy plans to meet these requirements primarily with internally generated funds and cash on hand, supplemented by proceeds from the issuance of debt and outstanding credit facilities. In the fourth quarter of 2002, the U.S. Utility issued $640 million of debt with maturities ranging from 2007 to 2032. Approximately $71 million of the proceeds of the debt issued in the fourth quarter were used to retire, in 2002, debt that was scheduled to mature in 2003, and the remainder will be used to meet certain 2003 maturities as they occur. Entergy Mississippi issued an additional $100 million of debt in January 2003 that matures in 2013. The proceeds will be used to repay, prior to maturity, debt of Entergy Mississippi that is scheduled to mature in 2003 and 2004. Certain domestic utility companies may also continue the reacquisition or refinancing of all or a portion of certain outstanding series of preferred stock and long-term debt.

Sales Warranties and Indemnities

                In the CitiPower sales transaction, Entergy or its subsidiaries made certain warranties to the purchaser. These warranties include representations regarding litigation, accuracy of financial accounts, and the adequacy of existing tax provisions. The purchasers of CitiPower have asserted notice of claims against Entergy under the terms of the Tax Warranty Deed dated November 23, 1998 between them and Entergy. The Tax Warranty Deed includes a reservation of rights relating to a potential liability in the event of an adverse tax ruling. In November 2002, the Australian Taxation Office assessed CitiPower for taxes for the years 1997 through 1999. Management believes it has adequately provided for the ultimate resolution of this matter.

                In the Saltend sales transaction, Entergy or its subsidiaries made certain warranties to the purchasers relating primarily to the performance of certain remedial work on the facility and the assumption of responsibility for certain contingent liabilities. Entergy believes that it has provided adequately for the warranties as of December 31, 2002.

Power Purchase Agreements

                Entergy Louisiana has an agreement extending through the year 2031 to purchase energy generated by a hydroelectric facility known as the Vidalia project. Entergy Louisiana made payments under the contract of approximately $104.2 million in 2002, $86.0 million in 2001, and $58.6 million in 2000. If the maximum percentage (94%) of the energy is made available to Entergy Louisiana, current production projections would require estimated payments of approximately $79.5 million in 2003, and a total of $2.7 billion for the years 2004 through 2031. Entergy Louisiana currently recovers the costs of the purchased energy through its fuel adjustment clause. In an LPSC-approved settlement related to tax benefits from the treatment of the Vidalia contract, Entergy Louisiana agreed to credit monthly rates by $11 million each year for up to ten years, beginning in October 2002.

Nuclear Insurance

                The Price-Anderson Act limits public liability of a nuclear plant owner for a single nuclear incident to approximately $9.5 billion. Protection for this liability is provided through a combination of private insurance underwritten by American Nuclear Insurers (ANI) (currently $300 million for each reactor) and an industry assessment program. In addition, liability arising out of terrorist acts will be covered by ANI subject to one industry aggregate limit of $300 million, with a conditional option for one shared industry aggregate limit reinstatement of $300 million. (There are no terrorism limitations under the Price-Anderson Secondary Financial Protection program, which responds upon the exhaustion of ANI coverage). Under the assessment program, the maximum payment requirement for each nuclear incident would be $88.1 million per reactor, payable at a rate of $10 million per licensed reactor per incident per year. Entergy has ten licensed reactors, with five each in the U.S. Utility segment and the Non-Utility Nuclear segment. As a co-licensee of Grand Gulf 1 with System Energy, SMEPA would share in 10% of this obligation. In addition, each owner/licensee of Entergy's ten nuclear units participates in a private insurance program that provides coverage for worker tort claims filed for bodily injury caused by radiation exposure. The program provides for a maximum assessment of approximately $3 million for each licensed reactor in the event that losses exceed accumulated reserve funds.

                Entergy's nuclear owner/licensee subsidiaries are also members of certain insurance programs that provide coverage for property damage, including decontamination and premature decommissioning expense, to members' nuclear generating plants. These programs are underwritten by Nuclear Electric Insurance, Limited (NEIL). As of December 31, 2002, Entergy was insured against such losses up to $2.3 billion for each of its nuclear units, except for Pilgrim and Vermont Yankee which are insured for $1.115 billion in property damages. In addition, Entergy's nuclear owner/licensee subsidiaries are members of the NEIL insurance program that covers certain replacement power and business interruption costs incurred due to prolonged nuclear unit outages. Under the property damage and replacement power/business interruption insurance programs, these Entergy subsidiaries could be subject to assessments if losses exceed the accumulated funds available to the insurers. As of December 31, 2002, the maximum amounts of such possible assessments were $81.4 million for the U.S. Utility segment and $95.3 million for the Non-Utility Nuclear segment.

                Entergy maintains property insurance for each of its nuclear units in excess of the NRC's minimum requirement for nuclear power plant licensees of $1.06 billion per site. NRC regulations provide that the proceeds of this insurance must be used, first, to render the reactor safe and stable, and second, to complete decontamination operations. Only after proceeds are dedicated for such use and regulatory approval is secured would any remaining proceeds be made available for the benefit of plant owners or their creditors.

                Effective November 15, 2001, in the event that one or more acts of terrorism cause accidental property damage under one or more of all nuclear insurance policies issued by NEIL (including, but not limited to, those described above) within 12 months from the date the first accidental property damage occurs, the maximum recovery under all such nuclear insurance policies shall be an aggregate of $3.24 billion plus the additional amounts recovered for such losses from reinsurance, indemnity, and any other source applicable to such losses.

Spent Nuclear Fuel

                Entergy's nuclear owner/licensee subsidiaries provide for the estimated future disposal costs of spent nuclear fuel in accordance with the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. The affected Entergy companies entered into contracts with the DOE, whereby the DOE will furnish disposal service at a cost of one mill per net kWh generated and sold after April 7, 1983, plus a one-time fee for generation prior to that date. Entergy Arkansas is the only Entergy company that generated electric power with nuclear fuel prior to that date and has a recorded liability as of December 31, 2002 of $153 million for the one-time fee. The fees payable to the DOE may be adjusted in the future to assure full recovery. Entergy considers all costs incurred for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, except accrued interest, to be proper components of nuclear fuel expense. Provisions to recover such costs have been or will be made in applications to regulatory authorities.

                Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business has accepted assignment of the Pilgrim, FitzPatrick, Indian Point 3, Indian Point 2, and Vermont Yankee spent fuel disposal contracts with the DOE held by their previous owners. The previous owners have paid or retained liability for the fees for all generation prior to the purchase dates of those plants.

                Delays have occurred in the DOE's program for the acceptance and disposal of spent nuclear fuel at a permanent repository. After twenty years of study, the DOE, in February 2002, formally recommended, and President Bush approved, Yucca Mountain, Nevada as the permanent spent fuel repository. DOE will now proceed with the licensing and, if the license is granted by the NRC, eventual construction of the repository will begin and receipt of spent fuel may begin as early as approximately 2010. Considerable uncertainty remains regarding the time frame under which the DOE will begin to accept spent fuel from Entergy's facilities for storage or disposal. As a result, future expenditures will be required to increase spent fuel storage capacity at Entergy's nuclear plant sites.

                Pending DOE acceptance and disposal of spent nuclear fuel, the owners of nuclear plants are responsible for their own spent fuel storage. Current on-site spent fuel storage capacity at Grand Gulf 1 and River Bend is estimated to be sufficient until approximately 2006 and 2004, respectively, at which time dry cask storage facilities will be placed into service. The spent fuel pool at Waterford 3 was recently expanded through the replacement of the existing storage racks with higher density storage racks. This expansion should provide sufficient storage for Waterford 3 until after 2010. An ANO storage facility using dry casks began operation in 1996 and has been expanded since and will be further expanded as needed. The spent fuel storage facility at Pilgrim is licensed to provide enough storage capacity until approximately 2012. The first dry spent fuel storage casks were loaded at FitzPatrick in 2002, and further casks will be loaded there as needed. Indian Point and Vermont Yankee currently have sufficient spent fuel storage capacity until approximately 2004 and 2006, respectively, at which time planned additional dry cask storage capacity are to begin operation.

Nuclear Decommissioning Costs

                Total approved decommissioning costs for rate recovery purposes as of December 31, 2002, for Entergy Arkansas', Entergy Gulf States', Entergy Louisiana's, and System Energy's nuclear power plants, excluding SMEPA's share of Grand Gulf 1, are as follows:

                Entergy has been recording decommissioning liabilities for these plants as the estimated decommissioning costs are collected from customers or as earnings on the trust funds are realized. Effective January 1, 2003, Entergy adopted SFAS 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations." The provisions of this statement will result in a different amount of decommissioning costs being recorded than under the method described above in use prior to December 31, 2002. Entergy expects to adjust for financial reporting purposes this different level of decommissioning expense to the level previously being recorded through the use of regulatory assets/regulatory liabilities for a substantial portion of the decommissioning costs associated with the units listed above. The decommissioning liabilities recorded are discussed below.

                Decommissioning costs recovered in rates are deposited in trust funds and reported at market value based upon market quotes or as determined by widely used pricing services. These trust fund assets largely offset the accumulated decommissioning liability that is recorded as accumulated depreciation for Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, and Entergy Louisiana, and are recorded as deferred credits for System Energy and Entergy's Non-Utility Nuclear business. The liability associated with the trust funds received from Cajun with the transfer of Cajun's 30% share of River Bend is also recorded as a deferred credit by Entergy Gulf States. The actual decommissioning costs may vary from the estimates because of regulatory requirements, changes in technology, and increased costs of labor, materials, and equipment.

                Entergy periodically reviews and updates estimated decommissioning costs. Entergy is presently under-recovering decommissioning costs for ANO 1, ANO 2, Grand Gulf 1, Waterford 3, and the Louisiana-regulated share of River Bend. Under-recovery for Grand Gulf 1 and Waterford 3 is based on the existence of more recent estimates reflecting higher costs. Under-recovery of ANO 1, ANO 2, and River Bend is based on suspension of decommissioning collections under the assumption that the lives of those plants have been or will be extended.

                In June 2001, Entergy Arkansas received notification from the NRC of approval for a renewed operating license authorizing operations at ANO 1 through May 2034. In October 2000, the APSC ordered Entergy Arkansas to reflect 20-year license extensions in its determination of the ANO 1 and ANO 2 decommissioning revenue requirements for rates to be effective January 1, 2001. Entergy Arkansas will not make additional contributions to the trust funds in 2003 for ANO 1 and ANO 2 based on the extension of the ANO 1 license, the assumption that the ANO 2 license will be extended, and that the existing decommissioning trust funds, together with their expected future earnings, will meet the estimated decommissioning costs. An updated decommissioning cost study for ANO 1 and 2 will be filed with the APSC in March 2003.

                In December 2002, Entergy Gulf States and the LPSC reached a settlement of the fourth through eighth post-merger earnings reviews. Among other things, the settlement includes suspension of collections for decommissioning the Louisiana-regulated portion of River Bend beginning January 1, 2003 based upon an assumption that the operating license and the useful life of River Bend will be extended. According to the settlement agreement, in the event that the NRC formally notifies Entergy that the decommissioning funding for River Bend is or would become inadequate, Entergy Gulf States would be permitted recognition in rates of decommissioning expense at a level sufficient to address reasonably the NRC's concern as expressed in the notification. The decommissioning liability for the 30% share of River Bend formerly owned by Cajun was fully funded by a transfer of $132 million to the River Bend Decommissioning Trust at the completion of Cajun's bankruptcy proceedings.

                Entergy Louisiana prepared a decommissioning cost update for Waterford 3 in 1999 and produced a revised decommissioning cost update of $481.5 million. This cost update was filed with the LPSC in the third quarter of 2000.

                System Energy included updated decommissioning costs (based on the updated 1994 study) in its 1995 rate increase filing with FERC. Rates requested in this proceeding were placed into effect in December 1995, subject to refund. In July 2000, FERC issued an order approving a lower decommissioning cost than what was requested by System Energy in the 1995 filing. System Energy adjusted its collection to the FERC-approved level of $341 million in the third quarter of 2001. A 1999 decommissioning cost update of $540.8 million for System Energy's 90% share of Grand Gulf 1 has not yet been filed with FERC.

                As part of the Pilgrim, Indian Point 1 and 2, and Vermont Yankee purchases, the previous owners transferred decommissioning trust funds, along with the liability to decommission the plants, to Entergy. Entergy believes that the decommissioning trust funds will be adequate to cover future decommissioning costs for these plants without any additional deposits to the trusts.

                For the Indian Point 3 and FitzPatrick plants purchased in 2000, NYPA retained the decommissioning trusts and the decommissioning liability. NYPA and Entergy executed decommissioning agreements, which specify their decommissioning obligations. NYPA has the right to require Entergy to assume the decommissioning liability provided that it assigns the corresponding decommissioning trust, up to a specified level, to Entergy. If the decommissioning liability is retained by NYPA, Entergy will perform the decommissioning of the plants at a price equal to the lesser of a pre-specified level or the amount in the decommissioning trusts. Entergy believes that the amounts available to it under either scenario are sufficient to cover the future decommissioning costs without any additional contributions to the trusts.

                The provisions of SFAS 143 will also be applicable to the non-regulated nuclear units beginning in 2003. Refer to Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the effect of SFAS 143 on Entergy.

 

The cumulative liabilities and decommissioning expenses recorded in 2002 by Entergy were as follows:

    1. Includes decommissioning expenses and interest from accretion of the obligations.
    2. Trust earnings on the decommissioning trust funds for Pilgrim, Indian Point 1 & 2, and Vermont Yankee are recorded as income and do not increase the decommissioning liability.
    3. Added in third quarter of 2002, when the unit was acquired.

                In 2000, ANO's decommissioning expense was $3.8 million. River Bend's decommissioning expense was $6.2 million in both 2001 and 2000, and Waterford 3's decommissioning expense was $10.4 million for both years. Grand Gulf 1's 2001 decommissioning expense, which included the effect of the FERC-ordered refund, was ($23.8 million); its 2000 decommissioning expense was $18.9 million. Pilgrim's decommissioning expense was $20.1 million in 2001 and $19.2 million in 2000. In 2001, Indian Point 1 & 2's decommissioning expense was $5.3 million.

                The Energy Policy Act of 1992 contains a provision that assesses domestic nuclear utilities with fees for the decontamination and decommissioning (D&D) of the DOE's past uranium enrichment operations. Annual assessments (in 2002 dollars), which will be adjusted annually for inflation, are for 15 years and were $4.2 million for Entergy Arkansas, $1.0 million for Entergy Gulf States, $1.6 million for Entergy Louisiana, and $1.6 million for System Energy in 2002. At December 31, 2002, four years of assessments were remaining. D&D fees are included in other current liabilities and other non-current liabilities and, as of December 31, 2002, recorded liabilities were $16.7 million for Entergy Arkansas, $4.0 million for Entergy Gulf States, $6.4 million for Entergy Louisiana, and $6.3 million for System Energy. Regulatory assets in the financial statements offset these liabilities, with the exception of Entergy Gulf States' 30% non-regulated portion. FERC requires that utilities treat these assessments as costs of fuel as they are amortized and recover these costs through rates in the same manner as other fuel costs.

Employment Litigation

                Entergy Corporation and certain subsidiaries are defendants in numerous lawsuits filed by former employees asserting that they were wrongfully terminated and/or discriminated against on the basis of age, race, and/or sex. Entergy Corporation and these subsidiaries are vigorously defending these suits and deny any liability to the plaintiffs. Nevertheless, no assurance can be given as to the outcome of these cases.

NOTE 10. LEASES

General

                As of December 31, 2002, Entergy had non-cancelable operating leases for equipment, buildings, vehicles, and fuel storage facilities (excluding nuclear fuel leases and the Grand Gulf 1 and Waterford 3 sale and leaseback transactions) with minimum lease payments as follows:

                Total rental expenses for all leases (excluding nuclear fuel leases and the Grand Gulf 1 and Waterford 3 sale and leaseback transactions) amounted to $60.1 million in 2002, $65.1 million in 2001, and $53.3 million in 2000.

Nuclear Fuel Leases

                As of December 31, 2002, arrangements to lease nuclear fuel existed in an aggregate amount up to $140 million for Entergy Arkansas, $80 million for each of Entergy Gulf States and Entergy Louisiana, and $95 million for System Energy. As of December 31, 2002, the unrecovered cost base of nuclear fuel leases amounted to approximately $88.1 million for Entergy Arkansas, $41.4 million for Entergy Gulf States, $50.9 million for Entergy Louisiana, and $79.0 million for System Energy. The lessors finance the acquisition and ownership of nuclear fuel through loans made under revolving credit agreements, the issuance of commercial paper, and the issuance of intermediate-term notes. The credit agreements for Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Gulf States, Entergy Louisiana, and System Energy have termination dates of November 2003, November 2003, December 2004, and November 2003, respectively. Such termination dates may be extended from time to time with the consent of the lenders. The intermediate-term notes issued pursuant to these fuel lease arrangements have varying maturities through March 15, 2006. It is expected that additional financing under the leases will be arranged as needed to acquire additional fuel, to pay interest, and to pay maturing debt. However, if such additional financing cannot be arranged, the lessee in each case must repurchase sufficient nuclear fuel to allow the lessor to meet its obligations.

                Lease payments are based on nuclear fuel use. The total nuclear fuel lease payments (principal and interest) as well as the separate interest component charged to operations by the domestic utility companies and System Energy were $137.8 million (including interest of $11.3 million) in 2002, $149.3 million (including interest of $17.2 million) in 2001, and $158.7 million (including interest of $19.9 million) in 2000.

Sale and Leaseback Transactions

Waterford 3 Lease Obligations

                In 1989, Entergy Louisiana sold and leased back 9.3% of its interest in Waterford 3 for the aggregate sum of $353.6 million. The lease has an approximate term of 28 years. The lessors financed the sale-leaseback through the issuance of Waterford 3 Secured Lease Obligation Bonds. The lease payments made by Entergy Louisiana are sufficient to service the debt.

                In 1994, Entergy Louisiana did not exercise its option to repurchase the 9.3% interest in Waterford 3. As a result, Entergy Louisiana issued $208.2 million of non-interest bearing first mortgage bonds as collateral for the equity portion of certain amounts payable under the lease.

                In 1997, the lessors refinanced the outstanding bonds used to finance the purchase of Waterford 3 at lower interest rates, which reduced the annual lease payments.

                Upon the occurrence of certain events, Entergy Louisiana may be obligated to assume the outstanding bonds used to finance the purchase of the unit and to pay an amount sufficient to withdraw from the lease transaction. Such events include lease events of default, events of loss, deemed loss events, or certain adverse "Financial Events." "Financial Events" include, among other things, failure by Entergy Louisiana, following the expiration of any applicable grace or cure period, to maintain (i) total equity capital (including preferred stock) at least equal to 30% of adjusted capitalization, or (ii) a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.50 computed on a rolling 12 month basis.

                As of December 31, 2002, Entergy Louisiana's total equity capital (including preferred stock) was 46.28% of adjusted capitalization and its fixed charge coverage ratio for 2002 was 3.14.

                As of December 31, 2002, Entergy Louisiana had future minimum lease payments (reflecting an overall implicit rate of 7.45%) in connection with the Waterford 3 sale and leaseback transactions, which are recorded as long-term debt, as follows (in thousands):

Grand Gulf 1 Lease Obligations

                In December 1988, System Energy sold 11.5% of its undivided ownership interest in Grand Gulf 1 for the aggregate sum of $500 million. Subsequently, System Energy leased back its interest in the unit for a term of 26-1/2 years. System Energy has the option of terminating the lease and repurchasing the 11.5% interest in the unit at certain intervals during the lease. Furthermore, at the end of the lease term, System Energy has the option of renewing the lease or repurchasing the 11.5% interest in Grand Gulf 1.

                System Energy is required to report the sale-leaseback as a financing transaction in its financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, System Energy expenses the interest portion of the lease obligation and the plant depreciation. However, operating revenues include the recovery of the lease payments because the transactions are accounted for as a sale and leaseback for ratemaking purposes. Consistent with a recommendation contained in a FERC audit report, System Energy recorded as a net regulatory asset the difference between the recovery of the lease payments and the amounts expensed for interest and depreciation and is recording this difference as a regulatory asset or liability on an ongoing basis, resulting in a zero net balance at the end of the lease term. The amount of this net regulatory asset was $79.5 million and $88.7 million as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

                As of December 31, 2002, System Energy had future minimum lease payments (reflecting an implicit rate of 7.02%), which are recorded as long-term debt as follows (in thousands):

NOTE 11. RETIREMENT AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS

Pension Plans

                Entergy has seven pension plans covering substantially all of its employees: "Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Non-Bargaining Employees," "Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan for Bargaining Employees," "Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Non-Bargaining Employees," "Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan II for Bargaining Employees," "Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III," "Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Non-Bargaining Employees," and "Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan IV for Bargaining Employees." Except for the Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III, the pension plans are noncontributory and provide pension benefits that are based on employees' credited service and compensation during the final years before retirement. The Entergy Corporation Retirement Plan III includes a mandatory employee contribution of 3% of earnings during the first 10 years of plan participation, and allows voluntary contributions from 1% to 10% of earnings for a limited group of employees. Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries fund pension costs in accordance with contribution guidelines established by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The assets of the plans include common and preferred stocks, fixed-income securities, interest in a money market fund, and insurance contracts. As of December 31, 2002, Entergy recognized an additional minimum pension liability for the excess of the accumulated benefit obligation over the fair market value of plan assets. In accordance with FASB 87, an offsetting intangible asset, up to the amount of any unrecognized prior service cost, was also recorded, with the remaining offset to the liability recorded as a regulatory asset reflective of the recovery mechanism for pension costs in Entergy's jurisdictions. Entergy's pension costs are recovered from customers as a component of cost of service in each of its jurisdictions.

                Total 2002, 2001, and 2000 pension costs of Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized, included the following components (in thousands):

The funded status of Entergy's pension plans as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 was (in thousands):

Other Postretirement Benefits

                Entergy also provides health care and life insurance benefits for retired employees. Substantially all domestic employees may become eligible for these benefits if they reach retirement age while still working for Entergy.

                Effective January 1, 1993, Entergy adopted SFAS 106, which required a change from a cash method to an accrual method of accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions. At January 1, 1993, the actuarially determined accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO) earned by retirees and active employees was estimated to be approximately $241.4 million for Entergy (other than Entergy Gulf States) and $128 million for Entergy Gulf States. Such obligations are being amortized over a 20-year period that began in 1993.

                Entergy Arkansas, the portion of Entergy Gulf States regulated by the PUCT, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy New Orleans have received regulatory approval to recover SFAS 106 costs through rates. Entergy Arkansas began recovery in 1998, pursuant to an APSC order. This order also allowed Entergy Arkansas to amortize a regulatory asset (representing the difference between SFAS 106 costs and cash expenditures for other postretirement benefits incurred for a five-year period that began January 1, 1993) over a 15-year period that began in January 1998.

                The LPSC ordered the portion of Entergy Gulf States regulated by the LPSC and Entergy Louisiana to continue the use of the pay-as-you-go method for ratemaking purposes for postretirement benefits other than pensions. However, the LPSC retains the flexibility to examine individual companies' accounting for postretirement benefits to determine if special exceptions to this order are warranted.

                Pursuant to regulatory directives, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, the portion of Entergy Gulf States regulated by the PUCT, and System Energy fund postretirement benefit obligations collected in rates. System Energy is funding on behalf of Entergy Operations postretirement benefits associated with Grand Gulf 1. Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States continue to recover a portion of these benefits regulated by the LPSC and FERC on a pay-as-you-go basis. The assets of the various postretirement benefit plans other than pensions include common stocks, fixed-income securities, and a money market fund.

                Total 2002, 2001, and 2000 other postretirement benefit costs of Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries, including amounts capitalized and deferred, included the following components (in thousands):

 

                The funded status of Entergy's other postretirement benefit plans as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 was (in thousands):

                The assumed health care cost trend rate used in measuring the APBO of Entergy was 10% for 2003, gradually decreasing each successive year until it reaches 4.5% in 2009 and beyond. A one percentage point increase in the assumed health care cost trend rate for 2002 would have increased the APBO and the sum of the service cost and interest cost of Entergy as of December 31, 2002, by approximately $87.8 million and $10.6 million, respectively. A one percentage point decrease in the assumed health care cost trend rate for 2002 would have decreased the APBO and the sum of the service cost and interest cost of Entergy as of December 31, 2002, by approximately $79.8 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

                The significant actuarial assumptions used in determining the pension PBO and the SFAS 106 APBO for 2002, 2001, and 2000 were as follows:

                Entergy's remaining pension transition assets are being amortized over the greater of the remaining service period of active participants or 15 years, and its SFAS 106 transition obligations are being amortized over 20 years.

 

NOTE 12. BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

                Entergy's reportable segments as of December 31, 2002 are U.S. Utility, Non-Utility Nuclear, and Energy Commodity Services. U.S. Utility generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, and provides natural gas utility service in portions of Louisiana. Non-Utility Nuclear owns and operates five nuclear power plants and is primarily focused on selling electric power produced by those plants to wholesale customers. Energy Commodity Services is focused primarily on providing energy commodity trading and gas transportation and storage services through Entergy-Koch, L.P. Energy Commodity Services also includes non-nuclear wholesale assets, a participant in the wholesale power generation business in North America and Europe. Results from Entergy-Koch are reported as equity in earnings of unconsolidated equity affiliates in the financial statements. Entergy's operating segments are strategic business units managed separately due to their different operating and regulatory environments. Entergy's chief operating decision maker is its Office of the Chief Executive, which consists of its highest-ranking officers.

                "All Other" includes the parent company, Entergy Corporation, and other business activity, including earnings on the proceeds of sales of previously owned businesses.

Entergy's segment financial information is as follows (in thousands):

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

                Energy Commodity Services' net loss for the year ended December 31, 2002 includes net charges of $428.5 million to operating expenses ($238.3 million net of tax). These charges reflect the effect of Entergy's decision to discontinue additional greenfield power plant development and the asset impairments resulting from the deteriorating economics of wholesale power markets in the United States and the United Kingdom. The net charges consist of the following:

  • The power development business obtained contracts in October 1999 to acquire 36 turbines from General Electric. Entergy's rights and obligations under the contracts for 22 of the turbines were sold to an independent special-purpose entity in May 2001. $178.0 million of the charges, including an offsetting benefit of $28.5 million ($18.5 million net of tax) related to the sale of four turbines to a third party, is a provision for the net costs resulting from cancellation or sale of the turbines subject to purchase commitments with the special-purpose entity.
  • $204.4 million of the charges result from the write-off of Entergy Power Development Corporation's equity investment in the Damhead Creek project and the impairment of the values of the Warren Power power plant, the Crete project, and the RS Cogen project. This portion of the charges reflects Entergy's estimate of the effects of reduced spark spreads in the United States and the United Kingdom. These estimates are based on various sources of information, including discounted cash flow projections and current market prices.
  • $39.1 million of the charges relate to the restructuring of Entergy Wholesale Operations, including impairments of administrative fixed assets, estimated sublease losses, and employee-related costs for approximately 135 affected employees. These restructuring costs, which are included in the "Provision for turbine commitments, asset impairments and restructuring charges" in the accompanying consolidated statement of income as of December 31, 2002, were comprised of the following (in millions):

Restructuring
 Costs

Paid in
 Cash