New Orleans' ratepayers are NOT on the hook for Entergy's $96 million

​Entergy is trying to force New Orleans to pay $96 Million for their work on a gas plant that hasn't even been built yet. This letter outlines the legal authority the New Orleans City Council has as a regulator to protect New Orleans residents and businesses from Entergy's wasteful spending. 


Who is on the hook for the money Entergy irresponsibly spent? Entergy's shareholders, not New Orleans.

If you haven't heard, Entergy is demanding New Orleans fork up $96 million to pay for invoices ENO accrued towards their gas plant. For more background, read the Time-Picayune article Entergy power plant spending forces closer look at City Council revote by Kevin Litten

"​City Councilwoman Helena Moreno issued a news release on Wednesday (Jan. 30) that referenced the $96 million figure, which Moreno said was compiled from invoices the company has submitted to the council’s utilities committee, which Moreno chairs. That prompted a response on Friday signed by seven opponents of the plant, who accused Entergy of “reckless” spending.

​Signing the letter were Susan Stevens Miller, an attorney at Earthjustice who represents the Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Sierra Club; Logan Atkinson Burke of the Alliance; Beverly Wright, the executive director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice; Minh Nguyen, executive director of VAYLA New Orleans; environmental activist Renate Heurich; community activist Happy Johnson; and the Rev. Gregory Manning and Sylvia McKenzie, who are moderators with the organization Justice and Beyond.

Entergy, which declined to comment through a spokesman, has been preparing the site of the new facility. Opponents say the company should have held off on the spending, which ratepayers will ultimately cover through an addition to their utility bills, until a court challenge against the power plant is exhausted.

'The Louisiana Supreme Court makes it clear that when a company implements a regulatory decision ‘before the time for appeal has run or all appeals have been exhausted, it does so at its own risk,' the opponents' letter says.

It goes on to accuse Entergy of beginning work on the power plant without first obtaining a Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality air permit, which the company received last week. The letter points out that Emma Hand, one of the council’s legal advisers on regulatory matters, said in March that 'the council’s approval will be conditioned upon compliance with all EPA and DEQ regulations and requirements.'"

On Friday, February 1st, AAE filed a letter to City Council outlining why New Orleanians are NOT on the hook for Entergy's reckless spending. Read below or click here.