Entergy Expects Higher Third Quarter Earnings

Entergy reported today that it expects third quarter earnings of approximately $1.86 per share and third quarter operational earnings of approximately $1.83 per share. In the third-quarter of 2005 earnings were $1.65 per share and included the impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The higher results at Entergy Nuclear were partially offset by slightly lower results at the company`s regulated utility unit and corporate unit. The company says the decrease is due to higher operation and maintenance expenses, higher interest expense and lower interest income. At Entergy Nuclear the company says the higher results are due to higher energy pricing compared to one year ago, a power uprate completed since third quarter 2005 and fewer outage days. Entergy also affirmed earnings guidance for 2006 to be in the range of $4.78 to $5.08 per share, and operational earnings guidance in the range of $4.50 to $4.80 per share. Entergy plans to issue 2007 earnings guidance as part of its third quarter 2006 earnings release. Entergy`s third quarter 2006 earnings will be announced on October 31st. Entergy Corporation 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, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of over $10 billion and approximately 14,000 employees. (Copyright 2006 Newsroom Solutions, LLC)