Entergy 10-Q 2021-09-30

Filed 2021-11-05. 8 sections, 871K characters. Original on sec.gov · Markdown · JSON

Cover and table of contents

__________________________________________________________________________________________

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)
☑QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2021

OR

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________
Commission File NumberRegistrant, State of Incorporation or Organization, Address of Principal Executive Offices, Telephone Number, and IRS Employer Identification No.Commission File NumberRegistrant, State of Incorporation or Organization, Address of Principal Executive Offices, Telephone Number, and IRS Employer Identification No.
1-11299ENTERGY CORPORATION1-35747ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, LLC
(a Delaware corporation) 639 Loyola Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana 70113 Telephone (504) 576-4000(a Texas limited liability company) 1600 Perdido Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70112 Telephone (504) 670-3700
72-122975282-2212934
1-10764ENTERGY ARKANSAS, LLC1-34360ENTERGY TEXAS, INC.
(a Texas limited liability company) 425 West Capitol Avenue Little Rock, Arkansas 72201 Telephone (501) 377-4000(a Texas corporation) 10055 Grogans Mill Road The Woodlands, Texas 77380 Telephone (409) 981-2000
83-191866861-1435798
1-32718ENTERGY LOUISIANA, LLC1-09067SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
(a Texas limited liability company) 4809 Jefferson Highway Jefferson, Louisiana 70121 Telephone (504) 576-4000(an Arkansas corporation) 1340 Echelon Parkway Jackson, Mississippi 39213 Telephone (601) 368-5000
47-446964672-0752777
1-31508ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, LLC
(a Texas limited liability company) 308 East Pearl Street Jackson, Mississippi 39201 Telephone (601) 368-5000
83-1950019

__________________________________________________________________________________________

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

RegistrantTitle of ClassTrading SymbolName of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Entergy CorporationCommon Stock, $0.01 Par ValueETRNew York Stock Exchange
Common Stock, $0.01 Par ValueETRNYSE Chicago, Inc.
Entergy Arkansas, LLCMortgage Bonds, 4.875% Series due September 2066EAINew York Stock Exchange
Entergy Louisiana, LLCMortgage Bonds, 4.875% Series due September 2066ELCNew York Stock Exchange
Entergy Mississippi, LLCMortgage Bonds, 4.90% Series due October 2066EMPNew York Stock Exchange
Entergy New Orleans, LLCMortgage Bonds, 5.0% Series due December 2052ENJNew York Stock Exchange
Mortgage Bonds, 5.50% Series due April 2066ENONew York Stock Exchange
Entergy Texas, Inc.5.375% Series A Preferred Stock, Cumulative, No Par Value (Liquidation Value $25 Per Share)ETI/PRNew York Stock Exchange

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 ☑ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants have submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrants were required to submit such files). Yes ☑ No ☐

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.

Large accelerated filerAccelerated filerNon-accelerated filerSmaller reporting companyEmerging growth company
Entergy Corporationü
Entergy Arkansas, LLCü
Entergy Louisiana, LLCü
Entergy Mississippi, LLCü
Entergy New Orleans, LLCü
Entergy Texas, Inc.ü
System Energy Resources, Inc.ü

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrants have elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrants are shell companies (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☑

Common Stock OutstandingOutstanding at October 29, 2021
Entergy Corporation($0.01 par value)200,981,298

Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, LLC, Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, LLC, Entergy New Orleans,

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

See “Market and Credit Risk Sensitive Instruments” section of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries Management’s Financial Discussion and Analysis.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

As of September 30, 2021, evaluations were performed under the supervision and with the participation of Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, Entergy Texas, and System Energy (individually “Registrant” and collectively the “Registrants”) management, including their respective Principal Executive Officers (PEO) and Principal Financial Officers (PFO). The evaluations assessed the effectiveness of the Registrants’ disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the evaluations, each PEO and PFO has concluded that, as to the Registrant or Registrants for which they serve as PEO or PFO, the Registrant’s or Registrants’ disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by each Registrant in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms; and that the Registrant’s or Registrants’ disclosure controls and procedures are also effective in reasonably assuring that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Registrant’s or Registrants’ management, including their respective PEOs and PFOs, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Changes in Internal Controls over Financial Reporting

Under the supervision and with the participation of each Registrants’ management, including its respective PEO and PFO, each Registrant evaluated changes in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended September 30, 2021 and found no change that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, internal control over financial reporting.

ENTERGY ARKANSAS, LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

The COVID-19 Pandemic

See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - The COVID-19 Pandemic” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Winter Storm Uri

See “MANAGEMENT’S FINANCIAL DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS - February 2021 Winter Storms” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of the winter storms and extreme cold temperatures experienced in the United States, including Entergy Arkansas’s service area, in February 2021 (Winter Storm Uri). Fuel and purchased power costs for Entergy Arkansas were approximately $145 million in February 2021 compared to approximately $40 million in February 2020. See Note 2 to the financial statements herein and in the Form 10-K for discussion of fuel cost recovery at Entergy Arkansas.

In March 2021 the APSC opened an investigation into Arkansas utilities’ preparation, response, operational performance, and communication regarding the February 2021 extreme weather events. Comments from jurisdictional utilities were filed in August 2021. In April 2021 the Arkansas Attorney General notified utilities of its intent to conduct an investigation into the fuel costs that were charged during the February 2021 winter storms; specifically, whether there was price gouging by suppliers.

Results of Operations

Net Income

Third Quarter 2021 Compared to Third Quarter 2020

Net income increased $19 million primarily due to higher volume/weather and higher retail electric price, partially offset by higher depreciation and amortization expenses and higher other operation and maintenance expenses.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

Net income increased $63.9 million primarily due to higher volume/weather, the reversal in 2021 of the remaining regulatory liability for the formula rate plan 2019 historical year netting adjustment, and higher retail electric price, partially offset by a higher effective income tax rate, higher depreciation and amortization expenses, and higher other operation and maintenance expenses.

Entergy Arkansas, LLC and Subsidiaries

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Operating Revenues

Third Quarter 2021 Compared to Third Quarter 2020

Following is an analysis of the change in operating revenues comparing the third quarter 2021 to the third quarter 2020:

Amount
(In Millions)
2020 operating revenues$644.4
Fuel, rider, and other revenues that do not significantly affect net income37.9
Volume/weather25.8
Retail electric price14.6
2021 operating revenues$722.7

Entergy Arkansas’s 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 volume/weather variance is primarily due to an increase of 433 GWh, or 7%, in billed electricity usage, primarily due to an increase in industrial usage and the effect of more favorable weather on residential sales. The increase in industrial usage is primarily due to an increase in demand from expansion projects, primarily in the metals industry.

The retail electric price variance is primarily due to an increase in formula rate plan rates effective with the first billing cycle of May 2021. See Note 2 to the financial statements herein for further discussion of the 2020 formula rate plan filing.

Billed electric energy sales for Entergy Arkansas for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 are as follows:

20212020% Change
(GWh)
Residential2,4432,3803
Commercial1,6641,6193
Industrial2,3792,05616
Governmental65633
Total retail6,5516,1187
Sales for resale:
Associated companies64252023
Non-associated companies1,5691,4945
Total8,7628,1328

See Note 13 to the financial statements herein for additional discussion of Entergy Arkansas’s operating revenues.

Entergy Arkansas, LLC and Subsidiaries

Management's Financial Discussion and Analysis

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020

Following is an analysis of the change in operating revenues comparing the nine months ended September 30, 2021 to the nine months ended September 30, 2020:

Amount
(In Millions)
2020 operating revenues$1,618.1
Fuel, rider, and other revenues that do not significantly affect net income146.8
Volume/weather69.8
Retail electric price21.6
2021 operating revenues$1,856.3

Entergy Arkansas’s 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” inc

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Item 1. Legal Proceedings

See “PART I, Item 1, Litigation” in the Form 10-K for a discussion of legal, administrative, and other regulatory proceedings affecting Entergy. Also see Notes 1 and 2 to the financial statements herein and “Item 5, Other Information, Environmental Regulation” below for updates regarding environmental proceedings and regulation.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

See the risk factors discussed in “Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K, which could materially affect Entergy’s and its Registrant Subsidiaries’ business, financial condition, or future results. The information set forth in this report, including the risk factors presented below, updates and should be read in conjunction with the risk factors and information disclosed in the Form 10-K. In addition, because Entergy cannot predict the ultimate impacts of COVID-19, the actual impacts may also exacerbate other risks discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in the Form 10-K, any of which could have a material effect on Entergy and its Registrant Subsidiaries.

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and responsive measures taken on Entergy’s and its Utility operating companies’ business, results of operations, and financial condition are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

In December 2019 a novel strain of coronavirus was reported to have surfaced in Wuhan, China. Since then, several variants of the COVID-19 virus have spread throughout the world, including the United States. To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, public health officials in the United States have at various times both recommended and mandated wearing of masks and other precautions, including prohibitions on congregating in heavily-populated areas, closure or limitations on the functions of non-essential business, and shelter-in-place orders or similar measures, including throughout Entergy’s service areas. While many of these mitigation measures have been lifted following the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccines, there is a risk that certain of these measures could be reinstated and/or continued, and that such measures could have an adverse effect on the general economy, Entergy’s customers, and its operations.

Entergy and its Utility operating companies experienced a decline in commercial and industrial sales and an increase in arrearages and bad debt expense due to non-payment by customers. Much of the commercial and industrial sales have recovered, and the arrearages have begun to decline, although management cannot predict the timing of collections of such arrearages. The Utility operating companies have resumed disconnecting customers for non-payment of bills, but such disconnects could again be suspended at the Utility operating companies should another shelter-in-place order or similar measure occur and their regulators mandate. While they are working with regulators to ensure ultimate recovery for those and other COVID-19 related costs, the amount, method, and timing of such recovery is unknown. Entergy and its Registrant Subsidiaries also could experience, and in some cases have experienced, among other challenges, supply chain, vendor, and contractor disruptions; delays in completion of capital or other construction projects, maintenance, and other operations activities, including prolonged or delayed outages; delays in regulatory proceedings; workforce availability challenges, including from COVID-19 infections, quarantining, or concerns with vaccination or testing mandates, health or safety issues; increased storm recovery costs; increased cybersecurity risks as a result of many employees telecommuting; risks or uncertainties associated with the return for many employees from telecommuting to on-site work on a full-time or hybrid basis; volatility in the credit or capital markets (and any related increased cost of capital or any inability to access the capital markets or draw on available credit facilities); or other adverse impacts on their ability to execute on business strategies and initiatives.

Although the economy has been recovering, another economic decline could adversely impact Entergy’s and the Utility operating companies’ liquidity and cash flows, including through declining sales, reduced revenues, delays in receipts of customer payments, or increased bad debt expense. The Utility operating companies also may experience regulatory outcomes that require them to postpone planned investment and otherwise reduce costs due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their customers. In addition, if the COVID-19 pandemic creates additional disruptions or turmoil in the credit or financial markets, or adversely impacts Entergy’s credit metrics or ratings, such developments could adversely affect its ability to access capital on favorable terms and continue to

meet its liquidity needs or cause a decrease in the value of its defined benefit pension trust funds, as well as its nuclear decommissioning trust funds, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted.

Entergy cannot predict the extent or duration of the outbreak, the impact of new variants of COVID-19, the effectiveness of mitigation efforts, or vaccines, anti-viral or other treatments for COVID-19, governmental responsive measures, or the extent of the effects or ultimate impacts on the global, national or local economy, the capital markets, or its customers, suppliers, operations, financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

(Entergy Corporation, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Louisiana, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy New Orleans, and Entergy Texas)

A delay or failure in recovering amounts for storm restoration costs incurred as a result of severe weather (including from Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, Hurricane Zeta, and Hurricane Ida), or the impact on customer bills of permitted storm cost recovery, could have material effects on Entergy and its Utility operating companies.

Entergy’s and its Utility operating companies’ results of operations, liquidity, and financial condition can be materially affected by the destructive effects of severe weather. Severe weather can also result in significant outages for the customers of the Utility operating companies and, therefore, reduced revenues for the Utility operating companies during the period of the outages. A delay or failure in recovering amounts for storm restoration costs incurred or revenues lost as a result of severe weather could have a material effect on Entergy and those Utility operating companies affected by severe weather. In addition, the recovery of major storm restoration costs from customers could effectively limit our ability to make planned capital or other investments due to the impact of such storm cost recovery on customer bills.

In August and October 2020, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, and Hurricane Zeta caused significant damage to portions of the Utility’s service territories in Louisiana, including New Orleans, Texas, and to a lesser extent, Arkansas and Mississippi. The storms resulted in widespread power outages, significant damage to distribution and transmission infrastructure, and the loss of sales during 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. Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of the electrical system damaged by Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, and Hurricane Zeta are currently estimated to be approximately $2.4 billion.

In August 2021, Hurricane Ida caused extensive damage to the Entergy distribution and transmission systems across Louisiana resulting in widespread power outages. Total restoration costs for the repair and/or replacement of the electrical system damaged by Hurricane Ida are currently estimated to be in the range of $2.1 billion to $2.5 billion. Most of the storm costs were incurred by Entergy Louisiana and Entergy New Orleans. Also, Utility revenues in 2021 were adversely affected by extended power outages resulting from the hurricane.

Because Entergy has not gone through the regulatory process regarding these storm costs, there is an element of risk, and Entergy is unable to predict with certainty the degree of success it may have in its recovery initiatives, the amount of restoration costs that it may ultimately recover, or the timing of such recovery.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (a)

PeriodTotal Number of Shares PurchasedAverage Price Paid per ShareTotal Number of Shares Purchased as Part of a Publicly Announced PlanMaximum $ Amount of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under a Plan (b)
7/01/2021-7/31/2021—$——$350,052,918
8/01/2021-8/31/2021—$——$350,052,918
9/01/2021-9/30/2021—$——$350,052,918
Total—$——

In accordance with Entergy’s stock-based compensation plans, Entergy periodically grants stock options to key employees, which may be exercised to obtain shares of Entergy’s common stock. According to the plans, these shares can be newly issued shares, treasury stock, or shares purchased on the open market. Entergy’s management has been authorized by the Board to repurchase on the open market shares up to an amount sufficient to fund the exercise of grants under the plans. In addition to this authority, the Board has authorized share repurchase programs to enable opportunistic purchases in response to market conditions. In October 2010 the Board granted authority for a $500 million share repurchase program. The amount of share repurchases under these programs may vary as a result of material changes in business results or capital spending or new investment opportunities. In addition, in the first quarter 2021, Entergy withheld 81,434 shares of its common stock at $95.12 per share, 40,476 shares of its common stock at $95.15 per share, 36,804 shares of its common stock at $94.75 per share, 36,347 shares of its common stock at $95.33 per share, 1,188 shares of its common stock at $91.16 per share, 853 shares of its common stock at $96.47 per share, 719 shares of its common stock at $98.01 per share, 678 shares of its common stock at $92.70 per share, 584 shares of its common stock at $94.69 per share, 118 shares of its common stock at $95 per share, and 10 shares of its common stock at $95.25 per share to pay income taxes due upon vesting of restricted stock granted and payout of performance units as part of its long-term incentive program.

(a)See Note 12 to the financial statements in the Form 10-K for additional discussion of the stock-based compensation plans.

(b)Maximum amount of shares that may yet be repurchased relates only to the $500 million plan and does not include an estimate of the amount of shares that may be purchased to fund the exercise of grants under the stock-based compensation plans.

Item 5. Other Information

Regulation of the Nuclear Power Industry

Following is an update to the “Regulation of the Nuclear Power Industry” section of Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K.

Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982

Nuclear Plant Decommissioning

In March 2021 filings with the NRC were made reporting on decommissioning funding for all of Entergy subsidiaries’ nuclear plants. Those reports showed that decommissioning funding for each of the nuclear plants met the NRC’s financial assurance requirements.

NRC Reactor Oversight Process

In March 2021 the NRC placed Grand Gulf in Column 3 based on the incidence of five unplanned plant scrams during calendar year 2020, some of which were related to upgrades made to the plant’s turbine control system during the spring 2020 refueling outage. The NRC conducted a supplemental inspection of Grand Gulf in accordance with its inspection procedures for nuclear plants in Column 3 and, in October 2021, notified Entergy that all inspection objectives were met. A formal report on the inspection is expected in late 2021.

Environmental Regulation

Following are updates to the “Environmental Regulation” section of Part I, Item 1 of the Form 10-K.

Clean Air Act and Subsequent Amendments

See the Form 10-K for discussion of the Clean Air Act and Subsequent Amendments set by the EPA in accordance with the Clean Air Act. Following are updates to that discussion.

New Source Review

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in January and February 2018, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy Power, and other co-owners received 60-day notice of intent to sue letters from the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association concerning allegations of violations of new source review and permitting provisions of the Clean Air Act at the Independence and White Bluff coal-burning units, respectively. In November 2018, following extensive negotiations, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Power entered a proposed settlement resolving those claims as well as other issues facing Entergy Arkansas’s fossil generation plants. The settlement, which formally resolves a complaint filed by the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association, was subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In March 2021 the District Court approved and entered the proposed settlement. For further information about the settlement, see “Regional Haze” discussed below.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

See the Form 10-K for discussion of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) set by the EPA in accordance with the Clean Air Act. Following are updates to that discussion.

Hazardous Air Pollutants

The EPA released the final Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS) rule in December 2011, which had a compliance date, with a widely granted one-year extension, of April 2016. The required controls have been installed and are operational at all affected Entergy units. In May 2020 the EPA finalized a rule that finds that it is not “appropriate and necessary” to regulate hazardous air pollutants from electric steam generating units under the provisions of section 112(n) of the Clean Air Act. This is a reversal of the EPA’s previous finding requiring such regulation. The final appropriate and necessary finding does not revise the underlying MATS rule. Several lawsuits have been filed challenging the appropriate and necessary finding. In February 2021 the D.C. Circuit granted the EPA’s motion to hold the litigation in abeyance pending the agency’s review of the appropriate and necessary rule. The EPA must file status reports with the court every 120 days. Entergy will continue to monitor this situation.

Cross-State Air Pollution

As discussed in the Form 10-K, the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) has been remanded to and modified by the EPA on multiple occasions. In September 2016 the EPA finalized the CSAPR Update Rule to address interstate transport for the 2008 ozone NAAQS. In September 2019 the D.C. Circuit upheld the EPA’s underlying approach to the Update Rule, but determined that it was inconsistent with the Clean Air Act because it

failed to include deadlines consistent with the downward states’ deadlines for attainment. The court remanded the rule to the EPA for further consideration, but did not vacate it so the rule remains in effect pending the EPA’s further review. In April 2021, addressing the D.C. Circuit’s remand, the EPA finalized revisions to the Update Rule, which became effective June 29, 2021. The rule finalizes interstate transport obligations for 21 states. For 12 states, including Louisiana, the EPA further reduced the number of NOx emission allowances allocated to each state. Entergy is currently analyzing the potential impact on its facilities in Louisiana. Preliminary analysis indicates that ozone season NOx allowances may become more expensive in Louisiana, which could impact the cost of dispatching Entergy’s generating units located in Louisiana.

Regional Haze

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in January and February 2018, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, Entergy Power, and other co-owners received 60-day notice of intent to sue letters from the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association concerning allegations of violations of new source review and permitting provisions of the Clean Air Act at the Independence and White Bluff coal-burning units, respectively. In November 2018, following extensive negotiations, Entergy Arkansas, Entergy Mississippi, and Entergy Power entered a proposed settlement resolving those claims and reducing the risk that Entergy Arkansas, as operator of Independence and White Bluff, might be compelled under the Clean Air Act’s regional haze program to install costly emissions control technologies. Consistent with the terms of the settlement and in many cases also the Part II state implementation plan (SIP), Entergy Arkansas, along with co-owners, agreed to begin using only low-sulfur coal at Independence and White Bluff by mid-2021; agreed to cease using coal at White Bluff and Independence by the end of 2028 and 2030, respectively; agreed to cease operation of the remaining gas unit at Lake Catherine by the end of 2027; reserved the option to develop new generating sources at each plant site; and committed to installing or proposing to regulators at least 800 MWs of renewable generation by the end of 2027, with at least half installed or proposed by the end of 2022 (which includes two existing Entergy Arkansas projects) and with all qualifying co-owner projects counting toward satisfaction of the obligation. Under the settlement, the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association also waived certain potential existing claims under federal and state environmental law with respect to specified generating plants. The settlement, which formally resolves a complaint filed by the Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association, was subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. In November 2020 the court denied motions by the Arkansas Attorney General and the Arkansas Affordable Energy Coalition to intervene and to stay the proceedings. The proposed intervenors did not appeal the ruling. The District Court approved and entered the proposed settlement in March 2021. Entergy met the settlement deadline to use low-sulfur coal, is on target to meet the other requirements of the settlement, and is in compliance with other SIP requirements.

The second planning period (2018-2028) for the regional haze program requires states to examine sources for impacts on visibility and to prepare SIPs by July 31, 2021. Entergy has received information collection requests from Arkansas and Louisiana requesting an evaluation of technical and economic feasibility of various NOx and SO2 control technologies for Independence, Nelson 6, and Ninemile. Responses to the information requests have been submitted to the respective state agencies. Louisiana has issued its draft SIP which does not propose any additional air emissions controls for Entergy units in Louisiana. However, some public commenters believe additional air controls are cost-effective. It is not yet clear how the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) will respond in its final SIP, and the agency, like many other state agencies, did not meet the July 31, 2021 deadline to submit a SIP to the EPA for review. The LDEQ is now expected to finalize its Regional Haze SIP in late 2021 or early 2022.

New and Existing Source Performance Standards for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in January 2021 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit vacated the Affordable Clean Energy Rule (ACE). The court held that ACE relied on an incorrect interpretation of the Clean Air Act that the statute expressly forecloses emission reduction approaches, such as emissions trading and generating shifting, that cannot be applied at and to the individual source. The court remanded ACE to the EPA for further consideration and also vacated the repeal of the Clean Power Plan. In March 2021 the D.C. Circuit issued a

partial mandate vacating the ACE rule, but withheld the mandate vacating the repeal of the Clean Power Plan pending the EPA’s new rulemaking to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Thus, the Clean Power Plan will not take effect during the rulemaking process and there currently is no regulation in place with respect to greenhouse gas emissions from existing electric generating units and states are not expected to take further action to develop and submit plans at this time.

Federal Jurisdiction of Waters of the United States

In June 2020 the EPA’s revised definition of waters of the United States in the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which narrowed the scope of Clean Water Act jurisdiction, as compared to a 2015 definition which had been stayed by several federal courts became effective. In August 2021 a federal district court vacated and remanded the NWPR for further consideration. The EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers subsequently issued a statement that the agencies would revert to pre-2015 regulations pending a new rulemaking.

Coal Combustion Residuals

As discussed in the Form 10-K, in late 2017, Entergy determined that certain in-ground wastewater treatment system recycle ponds at its White Bluff and Independence facilities require management under the new EPA regulations. Each site has commenced closure of its two recycle ponds (four ponds total), prior to the April 11, 2021 deadline under the finalized CCR rule for unlined recycle ponds.

Other Environmental Matters

Entergy Texas

As discussed in the Form 10-K, due to COVID-19 pandemic delays, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) extended the Affected Property Assessment Report (APAR) and Ecological Risk Assessment submittal dates to December 2020, which Entergy timely met. Following the TCEQ’s review of the APAR and Ecological Risk Assessment, the TCEQ issued a No Further Action determination for the site in March 2021.

Executive Compensation

On November 2, 2021, Entergy Corporation (the Company), entered into an agreement with its Chief Executive Officer, Leo P. Denault (Executive), to amend: (i) the Pension Equalization Plan of Entergy Corporation and its Subsidiaries, as amended (the PEP), to cease Executive’s participation therein effective December 1, 2021, if Executive has not separated from service with the Company before such date; and (ii) the System Executive Retirement Plan of Entergy Corporation and Subsidiaries, as amended (the SERP), to provide that, if Executive separates from service with the Company after November 30, 2021, the benefit payable to Executive (or his surviving spouse, if applicable) under the SERP will be determined as if Executive had separated from service on November 30, 2021 (including the use of compensation, service and actuarial assumptions applicable to separations as of such date). Except as amended, benefits payable to Executive (or his surviving spouse, if applicable) under the SERP otherwise generally continue to be subject to the provisions of the SERP (including applicable forfeiture conditions) and Executive’s Retention Agreement with the Company effective August 3, 2006, as amended.

Item 6. Exhibits

4(a) -Officer’s Certificate No. 18-B-14, dated August 11, 2021, supplemental to Indenture, Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, dated as of October 1, 2008, between Entergy Texas and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee (4.57 to Form 8-K filed August 17, 2021 in 1-34360).
4(b) -Ninety-sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2021, to Entergy Louisiana Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of April 1, 1944 (4.53 to Form 8-K filed October 1, 2021 in 1-32718).
4(c) -Ninety-fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2021, to Entergy Louisiana Indenture of Mortgage, dated September 1, 1926 (4.52 to Form 8-K filed October 1, 2021 in 1-32718).
4(d) -Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 1, 2021, to Entergy Louisiana Mortgage and Deed of Trust, dated as of November 1, 2015 (4.51 to Form 8-K filed October 1, 2021 in 1-32718).
4(e) -Officer’s Certificate No. 24-B-18, dated September 28, 2021, supplemental to Mortgage and Deed of Trust of Entergy Louisiana, dated as of November 1, 2015 (4.50 to Form 8-K filed October 1, 2021 in 1-32718).
*31(a) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Corporation.
*31(b) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Corporation.
*31(c) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Arkansas.
*31(d) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Arkansas.
*31(e) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Louisiana.
*31(f) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Louisiana.
*31(g) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Mississippi.
*31(h) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Mississippi.
*31(i) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy New Orleans.
*31(j) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy New Orleans.
*31(k) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Texas.
*31(l) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for Entergy Texas.
*31(m) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for System Energy.
*31(n) -Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification for System Energy.
**32(a) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Corporation.
**32(b) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Corporation.
**32(c) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Arkansas.
**32(d) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Arkansas.
**32(e) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Louisiana.
**32(f) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Louisiana.
**32(g) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Mississippi.
**32(h) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Mississippi.
**32(i) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy New Orleans.
**32(j) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy New Orleans.
**32(k) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Texas.
**32(l) -Section 1350 Certification for Entergy Texas.
**32(m) -Section 1350 Certification for System Energy.
**32(n) -Section 1350 Certification for System Energy.
*101 INS -Inline XBRL Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
*101 SCH -Inline XBRL Schema Document.
*101 PRE -Inline XBRL Presentation Linkbase Document.
*101 LAB -Inline XBRL Label Linkbase Document.
*101 CAL -Inline XBRL Calculation Linkbase Document.
*101 DEF -Inline XBRL Definition Linkbase Document.
*104 -Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted in Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibits 101).

Pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K, Entergy Corporation agrees to furnish to the Commission upon request any instrument with respect to long-term debt that is not registered or listed herein as an Exhibit because the total amount of securities authorized under such agreement does not exceed ten percent of the total assets of Entergy Corporation and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

*Filed herewith.
**Furnished, not filed, herewith.

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, each registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. The signature for each undersigned company shall be deemed to relate only to matters having reference to such company or its subsidiaries.

ENTERGY CORPORATION ENTERGY ARKANSAS, LLC ENTERGY LOUISIANA, LLC ENTERGY MISSISSIPPI, LLC ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS, LLC ENTERGY TEXAS, INC. SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
/s/ Kimberly A. Fontan
Kimberly A. Fontan Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer (For each Registrant and for each as Principal Accounting Officer)

Date: November 5, 2021