Staff and intervenors file support of public interest finding

AUSTIN, Texas. — Entergy Texas, Inc. received the strongest support yet for its proposal to join the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator or MISO this week when key parties submitted a stipulation and settlement agreement at the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

The settlement agreement states that, subject to specified conditions, the parties agree that Entergy Texas’ proposed membership in the large regional transmission organization is in the public interest. The agreement was executed by the commission staff, Texas Industrial Energy Consumers, East Texas Electric Cooperatives, Southwestern Public Service Company, NRG Energy, Entergy Texas, MISO and the Coalition of Entergy Cities.

Entergy’s proposal is estimated to save Texas customers up to $225 million over the first decade alone, while also increasing service reliability and offering the benefits of Entergy Texas’ access to a market with diverse and competitively priced generation resources. Under the proposal, Entergy Texas would transfer operational control of its transmission facilities to MISO, with a target implementation date of December 2013.

“This settlement agreement adds strong positive momentum to our efforts to enhance the reliability and affordability of electricity in east Texas,” said Sallie Rainer, president and chief executive officer of Entergy Texas, Inc. “Over the past two years, our proposal to join MISO has been analyzed extensively by independent experts working on behalf of various stakeholders and our state and federal regulators. The fact that parties with the biggest stake in the outcome support this move underscores that this initiative is great for our customers and our communities in the region.”

The settlement will now go to the PUCT commissioners for their approval. By statute, the PUCT must review and act on the request by October 27, 180 days from when it was filed.

The settlement is a positive development for the Entergy region as a whole. Each of the six Entergy operating companies has filed a similar proposal with its regulatory commission. Three of those filings have been addressed by their state’s regulatory body. Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana received approval with specified conditions while Entergy Arkansas received an order stipulating conditions for approval. Requests for Entergy Mississippi and the City of New Orleans will be considered by their regulatory agencies over the coming weeks.

MISO facilitates the buying and selling of electricity while continually balancing supply and demand, managing transmission congestion and creating a robust, competitive market for industry participants. MISO is the nation’s first regional transmission organization and one of its largest. If the Entergy operating utilities are allowed to join, MISO’s footprint will extend from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

Entergy Texas provides electricity to more than 400,000 customers in 27 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including more than 10,000 megawatts of nuclear power, making it one of the nation’s leading nuclear generators. Entergy serves 2.8 million customers in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.

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