Entergy Provides Preliminary Second Quarter Earnings Guidance

    NEW ORLEANS, July 17 /EMWNews/ -- Entergy Corporation

(NYSE: ETR) today indicated that it expects second quarter 2008 as-reported

earnings of approximately $1.36 per share and operational earnings of $1.45

per share compared to as-reported and operational results of $1.32 per

share in second quarter 2007.



    As-reported results are prepared in accordance with generally accepted

accounting principles and are comprised of operational earnings (described

below) and special items. As-reported earnings in second quarter 2008 will

include a special item at Utility, Parent and Other for expenses associated

with outside services provided during the quarter in connection with the

non- utility nuclear spin-off transaction. Entergy had no special items

included in earnings for second quarter 2007.



    The increase in second quarter 2008 operational earnings is due

primarily to higher earnings at Utility, Parent and Other and Entergy

Nuclear. Partially offsetting these increases were lower results at

Entergy's Non- Nuclear Wholesale Assets business compared to second quarter

2007. In addition, Entergy's earnings for the current period include the

positive effect of accretion associated with the company's share repurchase

program.



    The quarter on quarter increase in earnings at Utility, Parent and

Other is attributed primarily to higher revenue from sales growth. The

improved results at Utility, Parent and Other are expected to be partially

offset by higher operation and maintenance expense. Current quarter weather

also contributed to the improved results as second quarter 2008 weather was

warmer- than-normal compared to essentially normal in second quarter 2007.



    The quarter on quarter increase in earnings at Entergy Nuclear is

attributed to higher revenue from increased production made available by

fewer outage days and the addition of Palisades acquired in second quarter

2007, as well as higher energy pricing. These items were partially offset

by an impairment recorded in the current period on decommissioning trust

investments as well as higher expenses primarily associated with including

Palisades in the portfolio.



    The quarter on quarter decrease in earnings at Entergy's Non-Nuclear

Wholesale Assets business is attributed to higher income tax expense.

Second quarter 2007 results included the effect on income tax expense of

the resolution of tax audit issues while the current quarter has no similar

item included in results for the period.



    Entergy affirmed previously issued as-reported and operational earnings

guidance for 2008 to be in the range of $6.50 to $6.90 per share.



    A teleconference will be held on July 29, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. CT to

discuss Entergy's second quarter 2008 earnings announcement, and may be

accessed by dialing (719) 457-2080, confirmation code 2740813, no more than

15 minutes prior to the start of the call. The call and presentation slides

can also be accessed via Entergy's Web site at http://www.entergy.com. A

replay of the teleconference will be available for seven days thereafter by

dialing (719) 457-0820, confirmation code 2740813.



    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 more than $11 billion and approximately 14,300

employees.




          Additional investor information can be accessed online at

                  http://www.entergy.com/investor_relations    In this release, Entergy makes certain forward-looking statements

within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the

actual results to differ materially than the forward-looking information

provided. These factors are discussed in more detail in Entergy

Corporation's 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K including (a) Forward-Looking

Information, (b) Item 1A. Risk Factors, and (c) Item 7. Management's

Financial Discussion and Analysis and subsequent SEC filings.