At Entergy, our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we recognize and embrace the pivotal role we play as a utility in promoting energy equity. With customer needs at the forefront of our efforts, we maintain utility rates that are among the lowest in the nation. This is especially important since the communities we serve include some of the highest poverty regions in the country – approximately 25% of Entergy’s 3 million residential customers live at or below the poverty line.

To further improve customer affordability, we are investing in proactive solutions for our customers, fighting for every dollar of federal and state funding available, leveraging internal continuous improvement, and supporting customers directly through LIHEAP advocacy,��bill payment assistance, and flexible bill-pay options.

Moreover, our employees are deeply committed to the well-being of the communities we not only serve but live in ourselves. In 2023 alone, Entergy employees volunteered over 120,000 hours valued at $3.8 million in our service areas, per our latest performance report. For example, our employees gave their time to environmental and social initiatives such as a sustainability patch program for the Girl Scouts of Southeast Louisiana, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and preparing and filing tax returns for our vulnerable customers.

Now and into the future, we envision a power grid that continues to provide reliable and affordable electricity for the communities we serve. By investing in the power grid now, we’re strengthening our energy infrastructure to protect against stronger storms while also reducing the cost of power restoration and minimizing outages for customers. Through these strategic investments, we’re ensuring that our customers have affordable energy solutions now and for generations to come.

On top of safeguarding our communities’ access to reliable and affordable energy, we have set ambitious sustainability targets, including a commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, to provide our customers with clean energy. From advancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies to embracing renewable energy sources like solar and wind, we’re leading the charge to a more sustainable tomorrow. Beyond this commitment, we enable our customers to embrace renewable energy solutions and achieve their own sustainability goals through programs like Entergy Arkansas’ – by making renewable energy credits available to qualified customers at no cost, we’re democratizing access to clean energy and empowering individuals to reduce their carbon footprint.

“At Entergy, our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and we recognize and embrace the pivotal role we play as a utility in promoting energy equity.” – David Ellis, senior vice president and chief customer officer

Through our commitments to sustainability, customer affordability, and economic development, we’re proud to be shaping a better future for our communities, where clean and affordable energy is accessible to all. We look forward to continuing to partner with community organizations, local and federal policymakers, and our customers to promote an equitable energy landscape. Together, we power life.

Learn more about our team’s commitment to serving our communities in Entergy’s most recent performance report.

Customers spending more time at home means air conditioners and fans have been running more than normal to keep homes cool. Fortunately, when we see such an increase in demand, there are energy resources available so that electric service is not disrupted. The New Orleans Power Station, which entered commercial operations on May 31, has been consistently called to run in the day ahead market. The site has been viewed by MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator) as having both the economic and reliability advantages to deliver energy to New Orleanians.

Entergy New Orleans needs to be prepared to answer when called upon to supply safe, reliable and clean energy to our customers. Having a fleet that includes a diverse range of fuels is especially critical during the extreme heat that can hit Louisiana. Fortunately, the efficient New Orleans Power Station takes advantage of the low cost of natural gas and has enabled us to provide significant savings to our customers as it is running almost every day.

Reciprocating engine units, like those used at the New Orleans Power Station, can ramp up to full capacity in just a few minutes, which provides needed flexibility and grid support.  During hurricane season, the New Orleans Power Station will assist with storm restoration by providing an essential source of local generation. Reciprocating engines are highly efficient and include self-start capability, which enables the company to start the unit even when there is no power on the electric grid.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a common saying but is also a way to ensure we reduce risk for our stakeholders and a strong case for the importance of fuel diversity. The New Orleans Power Station is one part of Entergy New Orleans’ commitment to adding low-carbon, diverse generation to help combat climate change. Today, about 50% of the energy Entergy New Orleans customers use is clean, coming from sources that don’t emit carbon dioxide, such as nuclear, solar, and hydropower. 

Our growing portfolio of commercial and rooftop solar, as well as the New Orleans Solar Station, show that we can power the economy, provide good jobs for people and protect the environment.

The idea of fuel diversity is important for several reasons. We must ensure that we plan for more than one resource to deliver power to our customers instead of depending on a single fuel source to be reliable.  Plants like the New Orleans Power Station, which runs on natural gas, are critical to a strong, reliable portfolio and ensure that we can supply electricity to our customers at a moment’s notice.

While our customers’ needs and expectations evolve, we must continue to analyze what our fuel mix could look like, taking in to account keeping costs low for customers and taking advantage of technological breakthroughs.

Affordable and diverse energy provides a strong foundation for the clean energy future of New Orleans. Entergy New Orleans’ Clean ���ϳԹ��� Plan includes increasing the use of clean technologies, adding large-scale and rooftop solar, increasing energy efficiency, electrifying local infrastructure and continuing our use of emission free nuclear energy. This strategy will take advantage of all tools at our disposal to achieve a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Our investments today will lay the foundation for the future. If New Orleans is not thriving and growing, then our business cannot thrive and grow.

These are unprecedented times for all of us, and at Entergy New Orleans we take the health, safety and security of our customers, communities, employees and business partners very seriously. We are committed to powering our customers and communities regardless of the circumstance.

I wanted to personally share the steps we are taking to ensure we continue to deliver on our commitment to provide safe, reliable and affordable power to our customers.  We understand that the energy we deliver is essential to managing through the COVID-19 crisis. 

Safety is a core value for our company. That means the safety of our employees, customers and communities. We implemented our incident response plan nearly two months ago to ensure the safety of our employees and operations. These steps include education around self-checking for symptoms, telecommuting, social distancing and other precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to monitor the situation and implement any recommended public health measures as directed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, we are committed to working closely with local, state and federal authorities as the crisis unfolds.

From the power plants that generate electricity to the power lines and gas infrastructure that deliver energy to your home, we are making sure that we have the employees available to ensure the reliable operation of our systems. Our Customer Care Centers currently remain open for those who require in-person services. We have instituted a number of intentional measures at our Customer Care Centers to ensure that our customers and employees remain safe. Some of the measures like customer-spacing and fewer cashiers may slow service over the near term, but they are necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  It may, in the future become necessary to temporarily close the centers as we institute other preventive measures to ensure that our operations and facilities remain safe, secure and reliable.

For service that requires an employee to enter your home or business, we ask for your patience and cooperation as we implement new protocols/procedures that ensures the safety of our customers and our employees.

Additionally, as we prepare for spring storms, we are taking the steps to ensure that we have the people and resources to respond to outages as severe weather season begins.

We are also taking steps to help our customers through these challenging and uncertain times. Effective March 15, Entergy New Orleans has suspended electric and natural gas service disconnections for the next 30 days. However, we encourage customers to make payments on their accounts, and we’ll be working directly with customers to make payment arrangements if they are unable to pay in full.  Customers requiring such arrangements should call 1-800-ENTERGY (800-368-3749), visit , or visit one of our customer care centers and speak with a customer service representative.

For payments, please visit us online at /payonline to make a payment at no charge, pay by phone at 800-584-1241 ($2.95 fee) or by mail to Entergy New Orleans, P.O. Box 8106, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70891.

In our 100 years of serving our customers, we have faced many challenges together. But we have never wavered in our commitment to do everything we can to support our customers and the communities we serve. This pandemic is no different. Entergy New Orleans will be there to keep the lights on and our future bright. 

Sincerely,

David Ellis
President and CEO, Entergy New Orleans, LLC

Entergy New Orleans is on a Path to Progress. I want you to know what that really means for you, and how you and the city will be positively impacted. Specifically, I want to update you on our proposed resolution to the rate plan originally submitted to the New Orleans City Council in September 2018.

I feel strongly that this is an initial, yet monumental step, toward our envisioned path forward.

We know you want reliable and affordable power, clean energy, and improved customer and community relationships. I am pleased to report that Entergy New Orleans has made gains in all of these areas, and with the City Council’s leadership, we will be on track to accomplish even more.

On Thursday, I sent a letter to the Council highlighting a number of suggested enhancements to the rate plan that will deliver significant benefits to customers, including improved reliability and more customer service options. Most importantly, the suggestions should result in lower bills for most of our electric and gas customers.

This solution is the outcome of a great deal of valuable feedback we received from you, our customers, during meetings and outreach events we hosted in each Council district. We wanted input from all members of our community, and what we heard – passionate, thoughtful and considerate insights – truly drove the desire to change. So, thank you.

Communication and transparency are key in building trust and confidence. In the seven months since I’ve become president and CEO, the employees of Entergy have made great strides in addressing challenges while reestablishing a constructive relationship with the City Council and our community. But this is just the beginning. Our approach to resolving the rate case is a statement of our dedication to you and a clear signal that we are moving in a positive direction for New Orleans.

Over the next two months, we will be in the community hosting local meetings in each Council district to inform you of the benefits of the Path to Progress and to benefit from your feedback. Our goal is to keep up the momentum on our Path to Progress and to be a better partner to you. 

We are honored to serve you and invite you to learn more about our proposal to the Council by visiting entergy.com/pathtoprogress.

David D. Ellis

President and CEO
Entergy New Orleans