Entergy Arkansas (EAI) 10-Q2022 Q1 Quarterly report

Indicate by check mark whether each registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, LLC, Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, LLC, Entergy New Orleans, LLC, Entergy Texas, Inc., and System Energy Resources, Inc. separately file this combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Information contained herein relating to any individual company is filed by such company on its own behalf.  Each company reports herein only as to itself and makes no other representations whatsoever as to any other company.  This combined Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q supplements and updates the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the calendar year ended December 31, 2021, filed by the individual registrants with the SEC, and should be read in conjunction therewith.

In this combined report and from time to time, Entergy Corporation and the Registrant Subsidiaries each makes statements as a registrant concerning its expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, goals, projections, strategies, and future events or performance.  Such statements are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “project,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “estimate,” “continue,” “potential,” “plan,” “predict,” “forecast,” and other similar words or expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the only means to identify these statements.  Although each of these registrants believes that these forward-looking statements and the underlying assumptions are reasonable, it cannot provide assurance that they will prove correct.  Any forward-looking statement is based on information current as of the date of this combined report and speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made.  Except to the extent required by the federal securities laws, these registrants undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties.  There are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including (a) those factors discussed or incorporated by reference in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Form 10-K and in this report, (b) those factors discussed or incorporated by reference in Management’s Financial Discussion and Analysis in the Form 10-K and in this report, and (c) the following factors (in addition to others described elsewhere in this combined report and in subsequent securities filings):

Entergy operates primarily through two business segments: Utility and Entergy Wholesale Commodities.

Following are income statement variances for Utility, Entergy Wholesale Commodities, Parent & Other, and Entergy comparing the first quarter 2022 to the first quarter 2021 showing how much the line item increased or (decreased) in comparison to the prior period:

Utility

Following is an analysis of the change in operating revenues comparing the first quarter 2022 to the first quarter 2021:

The Utility operating companies’ results include revenues from rate mechanisms designed to recover fuel, purchased power, and other costs such that the revenues and expenses associated with these items generally offset and do not affect net income. “Fuel, rider, and other revenues that do not significantly affect net income” includes the revenue variance associated with these items.

The retail electric price variance is primarily due to:

See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the regulatory proceedings discussed above.

The return of unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes to customers resulted from activity at the Utility operating companies in response to the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The return of unprotected excess accumulated deferred income taxes began in second quarter 2018. In the first quarter 2022, $17 million was returned to customers through reductions in operating revenues as compared to $41 million in the first quarter 2021. There is no effect on net income as the reductions in operating revenues were offset by reductions in income tax expense. See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of regulatory activity regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Total electric energy sales for Utility for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 are as follows:

See Note 13 to the financial statements herein for additional discussion of operating revenues.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities

Following are key performance measures for Entergy Wholesale Commodities for the first quarters 2022 and 2021:

Utility

Other operation and maintenance expenses increased from $602 million for the first quarter 2021 to $628 million for the first quarter 2022 primarily due to:

The increase was partially offset by higher nuclear insurance refunds of $8 million.

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased primarily due to additions to plant in service.

Other regulatory charges (credits) - net includes the reversal in 2021 of the remaining $39 million regulatory liability for Entergy Arkansas’s 2019 historical year netting adjustment as part of its 2020 formula rate plan proceeding. See Note 2 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of the 2020 formula rate plan filing. In addition, Entergy records a regulatory charge or credit for the difference between asset retirement obligation-related expenses and nuclear decommissioning trust earnings plus asset retirement obligation related costs collected in revenue.

Other income decreased primarily due to changes in decommissioning trust fund activity, including portfolio rebalancing of the decommissioning trust funds in the first quarter 2021.

Interest expense increased primarily due to:

The increase was partially offset by the repayment by Entergy Arkansas of $350 million of 3.75% Series mortgage bonds in February 2021 and the repayment by Entergy Louisiana of $200 million of 4.8% Series mortgage bonds in May 2021.

Entergy Wholesale Commodities

Other operation and maintenance expenses decreased from $99 million for the first quarter 2021 to $41 million for the first quarter 2022 primarily due to:

Other income decreased primarily due to the absence of earnings from the nuclear decommissioning trust funds that were transferred in the sale of the Indian Point Energy Center in May 2021 and lower gains on Palisades decommissioning trust fund investments, partially offset by lower non-service pension costs. See Notes 8 and 9 to the financial statements herein for a discussion of decommissioning trust fund investments. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the sale of the Indian Point Energy Center. See Note 6 to the financial statements herein for a discussion of pension and other postretirement benefits costs.

Other expenses decreased primarily due to the absence of decommissioning expense from Indian Point 2 and Indian Point 3, after the sale of the Indian Point Energy Center in May 2021. See Note 14 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for further discussion of the sale of the Indian Point Energy Center.

The effective income tax rates were 19.2% for the first quarter 2022 and 16.3% for the first quarter 2021. The differences in the effective income tax rates for the first quarter 2022 and the first quarter 2021 versus the federal statutory rate of 21% were primarily due to the amortization of excess accumulated deferred income taxes and certain book and tax differences related to utility plant items, partially offset by state income taxes. See Note 10 to the financial statements herein and Notes 2 and 3 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the effects and regulatory activity regarding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

In April 2022, Entergy and Nebraska Public Power District signed an agreement to mutually terminate the management support services contract, under which Entergy provides plant operation support services for the 800 MW Cooper Nuclear Station located near Brownville, Nebraska, effective July 31, 2022.

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in July 2018, Entergy entered into a purchase and sale agreement to sell 100% of the equity interests in the subsidiary that owns Palisades and the Big Rock Point Site, for $1,000 (subject

to adjustment for net liabilities and other amounts) to a Holtec subsidiary. The sale will include the transfer of the nuclear decommissioning trust and obligation for spent fuel management and plant decommissioning.

Entergy expects to incur employee retention and severance expenses associated with management’s strategy to exit the Entergy Wholesale Commodities merchant power business of approximately $5 million in 2022, of which $4 million has been incurred as of March 31, 2022.

Entergy’s debt to capital ratio is shown in the following table. The increase in the debt to capital ratio for Entergy as of March 31, 2022 is primarily due to the net issuance of debt in 2022.

As of March 31, 2022, 21.5% of the debt outstanding is at the parent company, Entergy Corporation, 78% is at the Utility, and 0.5% is at Entergy Wholesale Commodities. Net debt consists of debt less cash and cash equivalents.  Debt consists of notes payable and commercial paper, finance lease obligations, and long-term debt, including the currently maturing portion.  Capital consists of debt, common shareholders’ equity, and subsidiaries’ preferred stock without sinking fund.  Net capital consists of capital less cash and cash equivalents.  Entergy uses the debt to capital ratios excluding securitization bonds in analyzing its financial condition and believes they provide useful information to its investors and creditors in evaluating Entergy’s financial condition because the securitization bonds are non-recourse to Entergy, as more fully described in Note 5 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K.  Entergy also uses the net debt to net capital ratio excluding securitization bonds in analyzing its financial condition and believes it provides useful information to its investors and creditors in evaluating Entergy’s financial condition because net debt indicates Entergy’s outstanding debt position that could not be readily satisfied by cash and cash equivalents on hand.

Entergy Corporation has in place a credit facility that has a borrowing capacity of $3.5 billion and expires in June 2026.  The facility includes fronting commitments for the issuance of letters of credit against $20 million of the

total borrowing capacity of the credit facility.  The commitment fee is currently 0.225% of the undrawn commitment amount.  Commitment fees and interest rates on loans under the credit facility can fluctuate depending on the senior unsecured debt ratings of Entergy Corporation.  The weighted average interest rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was 1.81% on the drawn portion of the facility. As of March 31, 2022, amounts outstanding and capacity available under the $3.5 billion credit facility are:

A covenant in Entergy Corporation’s credit facility requires Entergy to maintain a consolidated debt ratio, as defined, of 65% or less of its total capitalization.  The calculation of this debt ratio under Entergy Corporation’s credit facility is different than the calculation of the debt to capital ratio above.  Entergy is currently in compliance with the covenant and expects to remain in compliance with this covenant.  If Entergy fails to meet this ratio, or if Entergy or one of the Utility operating companies (except Entergy New Orleans) defaults on other indebtedness or is in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, an acceleration of the Entergy Corporation credit facility’s maturity date may occur.  See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for additional discussion of the Entergy Corporation credit facility and discussion of the Utility operating companies’ credit facilities.

Entergy Corporation has a commercial paper program with a Board-approved program limit of up to $2 billion. As of March 31, 2022, Entergy Corporation had $1.343 billion of commercial paper outstanding. The weighted-average interest rate for the three months ended March 31, 2022 was 0.48%.

Entergy Mississippi had $33 million in its storm reserve escrow account at March 31, 2022.

In February 2022, Entergy New Orleans filed with the City Council a securitization application requesting that the City Council review Entergy New Orleans’s storm reserve and increase the storm reserve funding level to $150 million, to be funded through securitization. A City Council decision is expected in third quarter 2022.

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in January 2021, Entergy entered into an equity distribution sales agreement with several counterparties establishing an at the market equity distribution program, pursuant to which Entergy may offer and sell from time to time shares of its common stock. The sales agreement provides that, in addition to the issuance and sale of shares of Entergy common stock, Entergy may also enter into forward sale agreements for the sale of its common stock. The aggregate number of shares of common stock sold under this sales agreement and under any forward sale agreement may not exceed an aggregate gross sales price of $1 billion. Through March 31, 2022, Entergy has utilized the equity distribution program either to sell or to enter into forward sale agreements with respect to shares of common stock with an aggregate gross sales price of approximately $630 million, of which approximately $430 million of aggregate gross sales price is the subject of forward sale agreements that have not been settled and is subject to adjustment pursuant to the forward sale agreements. In addition to settlement of existing forward sale agreements, Entergy Corporation currently expects to issue approximately $570 million of equity through 2024. See Note 3 to the financial statements herein for discussion of the forward sale agreements and common stock issuances and sales under the equity distribution program.

the outages. Additionally, as a result of Hurricane Laura’s extensive damage to the grid infrastructure serving the impacted area, large portions of the underlying transmission system required nearly a complete rebuild. In February 2021 two winter storms (collectively, Winter Storm Uri) brought freezing rain and ice to Louisiana. Ice accumulation sagged or downed trees, limbs and power lines, causing damage to Entergy Louisiana’s transmission and distribution systems. The additional weight of ice caused trees and limbs to fall into power lines and other electric equipment. When the ice melted, it affected vegetation and electrical equipment, causing additional outages.

In April 2021, Entergy Louisiana filed an application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, Hurricane Zeta, and Winter Storm Uri restoration costs and in July 2021, Entergy Louisiana made a supplemental filing updating the total restoration costs. Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy Louisiana’s electric facilities damaged by these storms were estimated to be approximately $2.06 billion, including approximately $1.68 billion in capital costs and approximately $380 million in non-capital costs. Including carrying costs through January 2022, Entergy Louisiana was seeking an LPSC determination that $2.11 billion was prudently incurred and, therefore, was eligible for recovery from customers. Additionally, Entergy Louisiana was requesting that the LPSC determine that re-establishment of a storm escrow account to the previously authorized amount of $290 million was appropriate. In July 2021, Entergy Louisiana supplemented the application with a request regarding the financing and recovery of the recoverable storm restoration costs. Specifically, Entergy Louisiana requested approval to securitize its restoration costs pursuant to Louisiana Act 55 financing, as supplemented by Act 293 of the Louisiana Legislature’s Regular Session of 2021.

After filing of testimony by LPSC staff and intervenors, which generally supported or did not oppose Entergy Louisiana’s requests in regard to Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, Hurricane Zeta, Winter Storm Uri, and Hurricane Ida, the parties negotiated and executed an uncontested stipulated settlement which was filed with the LPSC in February 2022. The settlement agreement contained the following key terms: $2.1 billion of restoration costs from Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, Hurricane Zeta, and Winter Storm Uri were prudently incurred and were eligible for recovery; carrying costs of $51 million were recoverable; a $290 million cash storm reserve should be re-established; a $1 billion reserve should be established to partially pay for Hurricane Ida restoration costs; and Entergy Louisiana was authorized to finance $3.186 billion utilizing the securitization process authorized by Act 55, as supplemented by Act 293. The LPSC issued an order approving the settlement in March 2022. As a result of the financing order, in first quarter 2022, Entergy Louisiana reclassified $1.339 billion from utility plant to other regulatory assets. The securitization process is expected to be completed in second quarter 2022.

In April 2022, Entergy Louisiana filed an application with the LPSC relating to Hurricane Ida restoration costs. Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of Entergy Louisiana’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Ida currently are estimated to be approximately $2.54 billion, including approximately $1.96 billion in capital costs and approximately $586 million in non-capital costs. Including carrying costs through December 2022, Entergy Louisiana is seeking an LPSC determination that $2.60 billion was prudently incurred and, therefore, is eligible for recovery from customers. As part of this filing, Entergy Louisiana also is seeking an LPSC determination that an additional $32 million in restoration costs associated with the restoration of Entergy Louisiana’s electric facilities damaged by Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, and Hurricane Zeta as well as Winter Storm Uri was prudently incurred. This amount is exclusive of the requested $3 million in carrying costs through December 2022. In total, Entergy Louisiana is requesting an LPSC determination that $2.64 billion was prudently incurred and, therefore, is eligible for recovery from customers. As discussed above, in March 2022 the LPSC

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in August 2020 and October 2020, Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta caused extensive damage to Entergy Texas’s service area. In February 2021, Winter Storm Uri also caused damage to Entergy Texas’s service area. The storms resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage primarily to distribution and transmission infrastructure, and the loss of sales during the power outages. In July 2021, Entergy Texas filed with the PUCT an application for a financing order to approve the securitization of certain system restoration costs, which were approved by the PUCT as eligible for securitization in December 2021. In November 2021 the parties filed an unopposed settlement agreement supporting the issuance of a financing order consistent with Entergy Texas’s application and with minor adjustments to certain upfront and ongoing costs to be incurred to facilitate the issuance and serving of system restoration bonds. In January 2022 the PUCT issued a financing order consistent with the unopposed settlement. As a result of the financing order, in first quarter 2022, Entergy Texas reclassified $153 million from utility plant to other regulatory assets.

In April 2022, Entergy Texas Restoration Funding II, LLC, a company wholly-owned and consolidated by Entergy Texas, issued $290.85 million of senior secured system restoration bonds (securitization bonds). With the proceeds, Entergy Texas Restoration Funding II purchased from Entergy Texas the transition property, which is the right to recover from customers through a system restoration charge amounts sufficient to service the securitization bonds. Entergy Texas began cost recovery through the system restoration charge effective with the first billing cycle of May 2022 and the system restoration charge is expected to remain in place up to 15 years. See Note 4 to the financial statements herein for a discussion of the April 2022 issuance of the securitization bonds.

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in October 2021 the APSC directed Entergy Arkansas to file a report within 180 days detailing its efforts to obtain a tax equity partnership. In April 2022, Entergy Arkansas filed its tax equity partnership status report and will file subsequent reports until a tax equity partnership is obtained or a tax equity partnership is no longer sought. Entergy Arkansas views the progress of the outreach to potential tax equity

In April 2022, Entergy Arkansas filed a petition with the APSC seeking a finding that the purchase of the 250 MW Driver Solar Facility is in the public interest. The acquisition of Driver Solar will be contingent upon receiving all necessary regulatory and Board approvals. Entergy Arkansas requested a decision by the APSC by June 2022 and requested cost recovery through the formula rate plan rider. The APSC established a procedural schedule with a hearing scheduled in June 2022. The facility is expected to be in service by the end of 2024.

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in November 2021, Entergy Louisiana filed an application with the LPSC seeking certification of and approval for the addition of four new solar photovoltaic resources with a combined nameplate capacity of 475 megawatts (the 2021 Solar Portfolio) and the implementation of a new green tariff, the Geaux Green Option (Rider GGO). The LPSC has established a procedural schedule that is expected to result in an LPSC decision by the end of 2022. In March 2022 direct testimony from Walmart, the Louisiana Energy Users Group (LEUG) and the LPSC staff was filed. Each party recommended that the LPSC approve the resources proposed in Entergy Louisiana’s application, and the LPSC staff witness indicated that the process through which Entergy Louisiana solicited or obtained the proposals for the resources complies with applicable LPSC orders. LPSC staff and LEUG’s witnesses made recommendations to modify the proposed Rider GGO and Entergy Louisiana’s proposed rate relief. In April 2022, LPSC staff and LEUG filed cross-answering testimony concerning the other party’s proposed modifications to Rider GGO and the proposed rate recovery. Discovery concerning these parties’ testimonies is ongoing.

Sunflower Solar Facility

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in November 2018, Entergy Mississippi announced that it signed an agreement for the purchase of an approximately 100 MW solar photovoltaic facility that will be sited on approximately 1,000 acres in Sunflower County, Mississippi. The estimated total investment, including the base purchase price and other related costs, for Entergy Mississippi to acquire the Sunflower Solar Facility is approximately $153.2 million. Entergy Mississippi will purchase the facility upon mechanical completion and after the other purchase contingencies have been met. In April 2020 the MPSC issued an order approving certification of the Sunflower Solar Facility and its recovery through Entergy Mississippi’s interim capacity rate adjustment mechanism, subject to certain conditions including: (i) that Entergy Mississippi pursue a partnership structure through which the partnership would acquire and own the facility under the build-own-transfer agreement, and (ii) that if Entergy Mississippi does not consummate the partnership structure under the terms of the order, there will be a cap of $136 million on the level of recoverable costs. In April 2022, Entergy Mississippi confirmed mechanical completion of the Sunflower Solar Facility. The initial closing is targeted to occur in May 2022. In conjunction with closing, Entergy Mississippi is executing a partnership structure through which the partnership will acquire and own the Sunflower Solar Facility. Final payment of the purchase price will be made upon substantial completion of the facility, which is currently expected in third quarter 2022.

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in September 2021, Entergy Texas filed an application seeking PUCT approval to amend Entergy Texas’s certificate of convenience and necessity to construct, own, and operate the Orange County Advanced Power Station, a new 1,215 MW combined-cycle combustion turbine facility to be

located in Bridge City, Texas at an initially-estimated expected total cost of $1.2 billion inclusive of the estimated costs of the generation facilities, transmission upgrades, contingency, an allowance for funds used during construction, and necessary regulatory expenses, among others. The project includes combustion turbine technology with dual fuel capability, able to co-fire up to 30% hydrogen by volume upon commercial operation and upgradable to support 100% hydrogen operations in the future. In December 2021 the PUCT referred the proceeding to the State Office of Administrative Hearings. In March 2022 certain intervenors filed testimony opposing the hydrogen co-firing component of the proposed project and others filed opposing the project outright. Also in March 2022, PUCT staff filed testimony opposing the hydrogen co-firing component of the proposed project, but otherwise taking no specific position on the merits of the project. The PUCT staff also proposed that the PUCT establish a maximum amount that Entergy Texas may recover in rates attributable to the project. In April 2022, Entergy Texas filed rebuttal testimony addressing and rebutting these various arguments. Also in April 2022 the ALJs with the State Office of Administrative Hearings approved a continuance of the hearing on the merits from April 2022 to June 2022, providing Entergy Texas an opportunity to accelerate the determination and fixing of pricing for the Orange County Advanced Power Station prior to the hearing. A final order by the PUCT is expected in third or fourth quarter of 2022. Entergy Texas also is pursuing environmental permitting that is required prior to the commencement of construction. Subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals, permits, and other conditions, the facility is expected to be in service by May 2026.

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 earnings per share from the Utility operating segment and the Parent and Other portion of the business, financial strength, and future investment opportunities.  At its April 2022 meeting, the Board declared a dividend of $1.01 per share, which is the same quarterly dividend per share that Entergy has paid since the third quarter 2021.

As shown in Entergy’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 were as follows:

Entergy’s operating activities provided $538 million of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to using $49 million of cash for the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to the following activity:

Net cash flow used in investing activities increased $38 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to:

The increase was partially offset by:

Net cash flow provided by financing activities decreased $274 million for the three months ended March 31, 2022 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2021 primarily due to long-term debt activity providing approximately $1,329 million of cash in 2022 compared to providing approximately $2,330 million of cash in 2021. The decrease was partially offset by an increase of $741 million in net issuances of commercial paper in 2022 compared to 2021. For details of Entergy’s commercial paper program and long-term debt, see Note 4 to the financial statements herein and Note 5 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K.

See Note 2 to the financial statements herein for updates to the discussion in the Form 10-K regarding these proceedings.

See Note 2 to the financial statements herein for updates to the discussion in the Form 10-K regarding federal regulatory proceedings.

As of March 31, 2022, substantially all of the credit exposure associated with the planned energy output under contract for the Palisades plant through 2022 is with counterparties or their guarantors that have public investment grade credit ratings.

See Note 1 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for discussion of new accounting pronouncements.