Here’s a list of the most viewed stories in our newsroom this year:

#1

The most viewed story in our newsroom this year happened at the top of the year with the announcement of the��. The $10 billion investment by Amazon Web Services, Inc., will bring new jobs and economic development opportunities to the state. It will also��support long-term power reliability and affordability��for all Entergy Mississippi customers.

#2

In November, the company����and celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Gerald Andrus Steam Electric Station. All in Greenville, the Delta Blues Advanced Power Station will replace Gerald Andrus with more clean and efficient generation – ensuring customers continue to have modern, reliable energy well into the future.

#3

Just in time for the summer heatwave, the Mississippi Public Service Commission����and help keep bills stable for customers. Entergy Mississippi’s residential rates continue to be among the lowest in the nation and have grown more slowly than the cost of other goods since 2005.

#4

Ahead of Hurricane Francine’s landfall in Louisiana,��, and encouraged customers to get prepared for the peak of hurricane season. Crews worked as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to����who lost power after the storm moved through the state.

#5

This year, Entergy Mississippi��to older adults and customers with disabilities. The company announced the contribution at one of the final games played by the Mississippi Braves baseball team in Pearl. The bill assistance, which includes contributions from employees, customers and shareholders, is distributed through Entergy’s��The Power to Care program, with the help of The Salvation Army.

#6

Five communities in Entergy Mississippi’s service area����to help boost business growth in their communities. The grants are awarded through the Excellerator Competitive Communities program, which helps communities within Entergy’s service area expand and attract new businesses and jobs.

#7

In March, Entergy Mississippi����in the Snowden Grove Park community, near Tchulahoma Road in Southaven. The substation is a part of a $37 million project, which enhances reliability for the existing transmission and distribution systems by providing capacity for future residential, commercial and industrial growth in DeSoto County.

#8

In October, the Entergy Charitable Foundation����to help fund the creation of the Critical Power Grid Network Security Lab. This advanced initiative between Jackson State and Entergy will create an innovation hub to help train a highly skilled cybersecurity workforce to meet the growing needs of nuclear, electric and natural gas companies, and electrical cooperatives. It’s the largest contribution the company has made to any school in the state.

#9

This summer, Entergy Mississippi����through its Beat the Heat program focused on helping its low-income customers and communities stay cool and pay their bills. Customers received bill payment assistance, fans, energy efficiency kits, home weatherization and invaluable support from local community partners.

#10

Providing customers with power they can depend on, at a price they can afford is a longstanding mission of Entergy Mississippi. Data from earlier this year showed the efforts the company has put forth to maintain reliability and affordability have��yielded great results��– allowing more investment in infrastructure and better performance.

“We are dedicated to supporting our customers in need by providing bill payment assistance, essential cooling resources and energy efficiency offerings for homes so they can better manage their energy bills,” said Robbie Kemp, Entergy Mississippi vice president of customer service. “Our commitment is to be there for our customers, especially during extreme temperatures. We understand the economic difficulties many are experiencing, and we are here to help.”

Entergy Mississippi regularly partners with local organizations to ease the burden of hot summer temperatures that cause increased usage and higher energy costs for our most vulnerable customers. Year after year, the Beat the Heat program provides our customers with energy bill assistance, tools and resources, and support during the critical summer months. Through this program the company:

• Donated more than $641,000 in funds from Entergy shareholders, employees and customers to¬†The Power to Care program, which provides energy bill assistance to older adults and customers with disabilities.
• Provided customers with free access to , an online resource that connects households in need with financial assistance and more.
• Awarded more than $9,000 in grants to vulnerable customers to provide free resources like electric fans and home weatherization kits.
• Donated to local organizations that weatherized homes for customers in need.
• Held a customer engagement event, providing more than 400 customers with assistance and resources to help manage their bills, energy efficiency kits, pro bono legal aid, Kids to College savings accounts and more.
• Provided more than 200 free electric fans to help customers beat high temperatures and save on electricity bills throughout the summer.
• Distributed 650 energy efficiency kits to customers. The kits included money-saving LED lightbulbs, advanced power strips, bathroom faucet aerators and V-seal weatherstripping.

Entergy Mississippi is dedicated to ensuring all customers have access to the resources and support they need to stay safe and comfortable year-round. To learn more about our customer assistance programs, visit .

About Entergy Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 459,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than , Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy Mississippi, visit the and connect with @EntergyMS on social media.

Entergy’s newly launched online connects customers to bill management, energy efficiency and financial assistance resources. This new resource helps our customers explore simple ways they can lower their electricity use and costs.

“In the face of extreme temperatures, we’re continuing to take steps to keep costs down for customers with some of the lowest electricity rates in the country,” said Robbie Kemp, vice president of customer service. “To help our customers take control of their budget and save money in extreme heat, we are connecting them with tools to monitor their energy use, manage their bills and find financial assistance.”

Track your energy usage

Bill management tools like empower our customers to set electricity usage alerts and monitor how much energy they use each day. Tracking electricity usage over time can help customers identify habits that contribute to higher usage and budget their monthly expenses. With their myAdvisor dashboard, customers have access to usage and cost details, bill history, bill projections and analyzer tools and more.

Manage your bills your way

Entergy Mississippi offers several flexible payment options so customers can choose when, where and how they receive their bills.

• allows customers to pay their bills when it works best for them.
• allows customers to “level out” seasonal energy use fluctuations, making their bills more consistent every month.
• billing allows customers to get their bills emailed as soon as they post and instant access to two years of billing history.
• allows customers to avoid late fees, writing checks and paying for postage by having bills automatically deduct from their bank accounts.

Entergy Mississippi encourages customers who may need additional payment options to reach out before a payment is due. To see if customers automatically qualify for deferred payment arrangements or payment extensions, they can visit our mobile app or .

Find financial assistance

For customers needing assistance to pay their bills, Entergy Mississippi is here to help. Throughout this summer, Entergy Mississippi is implementing a series of measures through its “Beat the Heat” program focused on helping our low-income customers and communities stay cool and pay their bills.

Most recently, the program assisted than 400 customers in Cleveland, Mississippi. Entergy volunteers partnered with local community advocate organization Boss Lady Economic Planning Development to distribute energy efficiency kits, box fans, cases of water, lawn chairs, and plastic swimming pools. Customers in Jackson received energy efficiency kits and box fans at a drive-thru event held in partnership with New Horizon Church.

 

In addition, Entergy Mississippi partners with local and state organizations to connect qualifying customers with financial assistance including:

• The Power to Care program provides emergency bill payment assistance to older adults and customers with disabilities.
• makes it easy for customers to quickly and confidentially check their eligibility for federal, state and local financial assistance.
• provides financial assistance for energy bills and other energy-related expenses.

For more ways to save energy and money, customers can visit .

About Entergy Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 459,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than , Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy Mississippi, visit the and connect with @EntergyMS on social media.

In addition to deep-cleaning sidewalks, planting flowers and performing general clean-up, volunteers donated and distributed more than $8,000 in school supplies and presented school leaders with a $20,000 grant.

The money will provide each classroom in grades 1-5 with eight Virtual Reality headsets and charging cases. A key benefit of using VR in education is the immersive learning experience it provides.

“We’re very excited to bring VR learning to our scholars,” said Principal Jocelyn Smith. “Virtual reality brings 2D objects to life and makes visualization a reality, enabling users to experience real scenarios or fabricated experiences over and over. Through tutoring and incorporating VR in our teachers’ everyday lessons, we anticipate VR helping our scholars maintain or gain proficiency on our state test, as well as district benchmark assessments.”

Entergy Nuclear adopted North Jackson Elementary School as its new Adopt-A-School partner in 2022. The school is about five miles from the company’s headquarters and is the largest elementary school in the north Jackson area. It serves approximately 430 students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade.

“Strong communities provide a better quality of life for all who live there, so it’s important to us to give back to the communities where our employees and customers live and work,” said Kimberly Cook-Nelson, Entergy chief nuclear officer. “Our partnership with North Jackson Elementary is strong and provides us with opportunities for our people to volunteer in a number of ways throughout the year, from back-to-school supply drives, to judging science fairs, to reading, tutoring, and more.”

This was the third consecutive year Entergy team members have participated in the district’s annual event.

“Our objective was to create an opportunity for customers to learn about our programs and services as well as discuss any questions they may have about their bills or service,” said Ann Becker, senior manager of sustainability for Entergy. “We partnered with a local community organization led by Dr. Pam Chatman, who is really committed to the community, and she made sure the community was aware of this opportunity. The response was very positive.”

Customers learned about that will help them manage their energy usage while staying comfortable this summer. “We helped our customers with tips on managing their usage and their bills during the summer heat,” said Lindsey Peyton, customer service manager in Cleveland. “We also introduced our participants to our new . It is a one-stop online resource for financial assistance and energy efficiency tips.”

The event also gave customers the opportunity to learn more about a variety of other services and programs Entergy offers. Qualifying customers were connected to available financial assistance, including Entergy’s for low-income older adults and customers with disabilities.

Customers learned about adding to their homes and businesses. Those who qualified were also able to enroll in our Kids to College matching savings account program on site.

“I think what I liked best was Entergy encouraging me how best to secure my home for energy,” said Jimmy Ware, an Entergy customer from Boyle. “I love to see Pam Chatman out here blessing the community and the community coming together. It was a good community event. We signed up for information on how to have better lighting around our home, so that was good information.”

Participants were treated to demonstrations of the protective equipment Entergy’s lineworkers wear and use to stay safe while doing their jobs. The protective equipment included rubber sleeves, rubber gloves, insulated protective equipment, fire retardant clothing, line hoses, blankets, insulator hoods, hard hats, safety glasses and more.

“They let me try on some of their equipment,” said Mary Johnson, an Entergy customer from Cleveland. “I got the chance to go outside and cut some wires like they use and I did it! It’s been helpful and a good learning experience.”

Electrical safety principles were also highlighted by the Arcs and Sparks demonstration, which educates customers on staying safe around power lines and the importance of keeping limbs, ladders, balloons and other items from coming into contact with the lines.

“I live here. This is my community and these are my customers—customers I see every day at the grocery store and the gas station,” said Lacey Little, line supervisor, Cleveland. “This event gave us the opportunity to explain exactly what we do. It was a good feeling.”

Entergy also partnered with North Mississippi Rural Legal Services to offer free legal guidance on a variety of topics, including .

Entergy and Boss Lady Economic Planning Development have worked together on several energy efficiency kit giveaways and activities to help Deltans over the past several years.

“It’s getting hot; bills are rising, so people had questions on what they can do,” said Chatman. “I have had a partnership with Entergy for so many years. It helps me to serve people and meet them where they are, so I’m just grateful to Entergy for choosing me to be one of their partners.”

In addition to gaining information, accessing resources, signing up for programs and having their questions answered, participants were given several items that will help them stay cool and reduce their bills this summer. ���ϳԹ��� efficiency kits, box fans, cases of water, lawn chairs, and plastic swimming pools that children love to play in during the summer were given away.

JACKSON, Miss. – Entergy Mississippi has committed $425,654 to provide bill assistance and income-based programs to older adults and customers with disabilities. The power company announced the contribution at a recent Mississippi Braves game. The bill assistance, which includes contributions from employees, customers and shareholders, is distributed through Entergy’s The Power to Care program, with the help of The Salvation Army.

While Mississippians know to expect a hot summer, the scorching temperatures can be especially dangerous for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Having power for air conditioning and fans is a necessity, just like food and medicine.

“Extreme heat increases electricity use, causing power bills to rise and creating further strain on budgets,” said Valarie Mabry, public affairs analyst. Mabry helps to coordinate the program for Entergy Mississippi. “However, relief is available, even when there is no reprieve from the weather. We are proud that our employees, customers and shareholders join together to provide assistance for those who need it most through The Power to Care program.”

Entergy Mississippi customers can help their neighbors in need by donating to the program and adding a monthly gift to their bill. To learn more about how to make a one-time gift donation by credit card or check, visit www.entergy.com/care.

All donations go directly to helping our customers make payments on their Entergy bill and are not used for fundraising or administrative purposes. When customers give, Entergy shareholders match the gift, up to $500,000, doubling the impact of the contribution. Donations to Entergy’s The Power to Care program are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. A summary of donations to The Power to Care program are included in the January bill for tax reporting purposes.

Customers having difficulty paying their bill may also qualify for . LIHEAP is funded through the federal government and works with community action agencies to qualify customers and distribute the funds.

Entergy Mississippi also helps customers manage their energy usage and save money by offering energy efficient upgrades through the Entergy Solutions Marketplace at , and providing these quick and easy energy efficiency tips:

• Change air filters. Air filters on some air conditioning units require monthly cleaning or replacing.
• Setting the thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature.The smaller the difference between the inside and outside temperatures, the lower your energy usage and bill will be.
• Buy a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can help manage costs, is controllable, and can help monitor usage. ¬†
• Use fans to cool off. Ceiling fans, box fans and oscillating fans use very little electricity to circulate the air. Make sure ceiling fans are rotating in the right direction – counter-clockwise during summer – to push cooler air down into the room. Be sure to turn all fans off in unused rooms.
• Close blinds, shades and curtains to keep the sun out and the cool air in. Also, close air conditioning vents in rooms that are not in use.
• Seal cracks and holes around doors, windows and ductwork. Weather stripping and caulk will help keep the cold air in and the hot air out.
• Use the myAdvisor tool on . The usage and cost tool can compare usage history by month, day and hour.

Learn more about The Power to Care and other ways we support our customers and communities at www.entergy.com/communities.

About Entergy Mississippi

Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 459,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of ���ϳԹ���, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy powers life for 3 million customers through our operating companies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. We’re investing in the reliability and resilience of the energy system while helping our region transition to cleaner, more efficient energy solutions. With roots in our communities for more than , Entergy is a nationally recognized leader in sustainability and corporate citizenship. Since 2018, we have delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits each year to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. Entergy is headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, and has approximately 12,000 employees. For the latest news from Entergy Mississippi, visit the and connect with @EntergyMS on social media.

From a former golf pro to weekend duffers, golfers of all skill levels enjoyed the challenges of the Country Club of Jackson’s 18-hole PGA Tour course. Before teeing off, Entergy Mississippi President and CEO Haley Fisackerly thanked the teams for their support and announced record-setting fundraising effort.

Themed “The Mississippi Masters,” teams competed for green jackets, a championship belt and bragging rights as the tournament’s first titleholders. The Deviney team earned the title with a score of 56, followed closely by second-place team T&C Specialty Distributors with a 59 and third-place team Quanta with a 60. The tournament also featured two skill events: closest to the hole on hole number 10, which went to Troy Vaughn, and longest drive on hole number 18, which was awarded to Brian Herrington.

Other highlights of the round included Charlie Warriner of the A1 Kendrick Fence team hitting a hole-in-one on hole number four and golfers finding an alligator sunbathing on the shore of a water hazard within the course.

“This tournament is an opportunity to engage with some of our vendors for a fun day while also giving back to our community,” said Robby Fox, capital projects procurement specialist, who is a former PGA Golf Professional and also led the planning efforts for the event. “Thanks to a dedicated planning committee and tremendous support from Entergy and our vendors, we had a wonderful turnout for our first year that resulted in a significant donation for The Power to Care.”

The Power to Care provides emergency bill payment assistance to older adults and customers with disabilities in their time of need. All donations go directly to helping our customers make payments on their Entergy bill and are not used for fundraising or administrative purposes.

A number of Entergy’s suppliers supported the cause including diamond sponsors Black & Veatch, Sargent & Lundy and Mitsubishi Power; platinum sponsors PSC Primoris and W-S Mechanical Group; gold sponsors E3 Environmental, Wise Carter, Magnolia Utility Services, The Park Company, Quanta and Irby Construction; silver sponsors Headwaters, T&C Specialty Distributors, Siemens ���ϳԹ���, Kiewit, Osmose, A-1 Kendrick Fence Company, JBHM Architecture, Chain Electric, Canadian Solar and Wesco; and bronze sponsors Irby, Howard Industries, B&B Electric, Preferred Sales Agency, Aertker Company, EDG, M&S Engineering, Leidos, FUCICH, Valmont Utility and Ampirical.

In addition to Fox, the planning committee included Cade Clanton, manager, sustainability generation and innovation, Brian Johnson, manager, category management, Chad Myers, category management specialist, and Austin Williams, senior capital projects procurement specialist, and Valarie Mabry, public affairs analyst. Volunteers also assisted with registration and other tournament duties to help make the event a success.

Every donation to The Power to Care program is matched dollar for dollar up to $500,000 by Entergy shareholders, doubling the impact of your generosity. Plus, your contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Learn how you can make a contribution at entergy.com/care.

The organization is passionate about supporting the communities in which it operates, whether through helping local charities or contributing to the regional energy economy. It balances the resiliency and reliability of the grid while keeping customers’ costs down and is working towards a more sustainable grid that can be accessed by all.

Entergy Mississippi is also juggling the demands of modern consumers as the world approaches global energy transition. With several technologies and renewable energy sources in constant discussion, Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi’s President and CEO, is tasked with managing, and meeting customers’ expectations.

Powering communities
Haley joins us to discuss the ever-changing market in Mississippi, the adoption of renewables, and the ways in which the company gives back to the communities in which it operates. “This year, we’re celebrating 100 years of doing business in Mississippi, which was the second of ���ϳԹ���’s operating companies that were incorporated into the group,” he opens.

“Our Founder, Harvey Couch, established Arkansas Power and Light, which is now Entergy Arkansas, in 1913. Ten years later, he came across the river into Mississippi and chartered into what was then Mississippi Power & Light Company and is now Entergy Mississippi. After that charter in April 1923, Harvey started acquiring various municipalities and the corporation grew from there.

“When we think about electricity, it’s something that many of us take for granted; we don’t order it, we just wake up and it’s there, ready to be flicked on and used,” Haley continues. “However, back when we started, electricity was still somewhat a novelty. Not everyone had electricity, mainly because people couldn’t afford it, so it was limited to municipalities that could have a power plant and deployed lines.

“The birth of our company ran almost in parallel to the birth of the electricity industry itself,” he proposes. “Here we are 100 years later and for most of us, we couldn’t imagine life without power. We truly are the bloodline of the communities and the customers we serve, as well as driving the state’s economy.”

Resilient and reliable
Operating in an area prone to storms, hurricanes, and tornadoes, Entergy Mississippi is responsible for power restoration after outages in the region. Recognizing that electrical power is now a necessity of day-to-day life, it is concentrating its efforts on strengthening the grid to bring enhanced reliability but also resiliency in the event of adverse weather.

“2023 has been a tumultuous year for us,” Haley reflects. “We’ve been hit with record cold temperatures, awful tornadoes hit some of our communities in March, and then we had a June like we’ve never seen before with a series of thunderstorms equal to Category 1 hurricanes. We’ve also dealt with record high temperatures, which surpassed our peak record three days in a row.

“When we have storms or outages for other reasons, power can be rerouted with its self-healing capabilities,” he proposes. “Although the entire utility industry must have effective storm response units, not just the energy sector, it is our mission to harden our grid to consistently and reliably provide cleaner energy to our customers.”

Haley continues: “One of the things I love most about my job is the opportunity to work with our communities and help them grow. Our most valuable asset is our people, many of whom live in local areas alongside our customers and we’re passionate about giving back to them.

“I’m also constantly aware that 20 percent of our customers live below the national poverty level, so we’re dedicated to deploying technologies and energy sources that benefit all our customers. We support local business by providing various economic incentives to help people get started, or even help existing companies through times of difficulty.”

With sustainability and renewables dominating discussions over the future of energy, Entergy Mississippi is playing into these conversations. Striving to provide the safest, cleanest energy to its customers, the organization is constantly searching for ways to lower costs while meeting increasing demands for sustainable power.

“Historically, the big debate in the US was deregulation of the industry, but after many failed attempts, we saw the wholesale markets become extremely competitive,” Haley recalls. “However, there is widespread recognition that retail markets still require regulation to enable us to deploy technologies and find new ways of generating energy.

Smart grids
“We’re looking at solar power, for example, as well as wind power and the use of hydrogen, but to be able to launch such technologies takes a huge capital expense. The best way to do that, I believe, is under a modernized, regulated model. There will be more distributed energy resources moving forward, from rooftop solar panels to micro turbines or grids.

“We have a heavy mix of natural gas and nuclear and have a commitment to increasingly add renewables to our portfolio. We’re striving to be well-positioned to appropriately respond to energy circumstances. When the sun is shining, we’re ready to deploy solar power, and when we get a cloud, we can quickly transition using all available resources to find another clean, effective alternative.

“We’re deploying 1000-megawatts of solar facilities over the next five years, for instance, as part of our Economic Development with Green ���ϳԹ��� (EDGE) program,” he reveals. “This strategy is two-fold, giving Mississippi an edge in recruiting industry while simultaneously giving Entergy customers
an effective hedge against volatile natural gas prices.”

Aside from sustainability, the evolution of technology has resulted in several changes to the company’s operations. “We’re no longer our grandfather’s utility,” laughs Haley.
“The biggest advancement we’ve seen in our lifetime is communications technology, which is transforming the way we manage and produce energy, especially as we modernize the grid. The future will almost certainly include smart grids, so we must learn how to best operate them and how to use devices like reclosers.

“It’s not only technology that has changed the way we monitor the grid and reroute power, but the materials have changed too. For example, we’re currently in the process of replacing wooden transmission poles with more resilient steel ones, which can withstand winds of up to 155 miles per hour.”

Exceeding expectations
As our conversation draws to a close, Haley adds: “Our goal remains to meet customers’ expectations and address some of the many challenges currently facing the entire industry. While challenges lie ahead, it is those opportunities that excite me. It’s amazing to see the industry progress with technology. It excites me that we can start to imagine a day where people don’t lose power. It’s within the realm of possibility, particularly when we start to analyze how we can build a smart grid with various distributed energy sources.

“Further afield, I’d like to see us as the premier utility company in Mississippi, and even in the US,” he concludes. “We will continue to deliver the best service and most competitive rates for our customers, while also providing opportunities for our employees and the wider communities.”

��

This article was originally published in ���ϳԹ���, Oil & Gas Magazine. To view it, click .

We’ve compiled the top stories shared in our newsroom this year. But first – do you want to take an even further trip down memory lane? Check out Entergy Mississippi’s 100^th anniversary and .

Now, let’s count down to the top story of the year:

#10

As summer temperatures approached our customers, and energy usage began to rise, to help customers manage their energy bills. Funded by Entergy shareholders, the commitment included $1 million in free��energy efficiency kits; more than $520,000 in emergency bill assistance for older adults and customers with disabilities; and 100 community events in honor of the company’s centennial anniversary.

#9

, collectively bringing more than 130 years of knowledge. The team ushered in the company’s next century, with the goal of making it a premier utility. New executive members included Vice President of Reliability Shawn Corkran, Vice President of Power Plant Operations Demitrius Davis, Vice President of Customer Service Robbie Kemp, Assistant General Counsel Tianna H. Raby, Director of Resource Planning and Market Operations Aaron Hill, and Communications Manager Leyla Goodsell.

#8

The company rang in the new year with a major launch, in preparation for a growing electric vehicle market. of its kind in ���ϳԹ���’s four-state service area. The $200,000 fast charging station is located at Renaissance at Colony Park in Ridgeland and will allow the company to study the impact of electric vehicles on the power grid.��

#7

Some of the best news customers received this year – just in time for the summer temperature surge. Entergy Mississippi’s residential rates continue to be among the lowest in the nation and have grown more slowly than the cost of other goods since 2005.��

#6

Did you know that during the warmer months, cooling costs make up more than 55% of an average customer’s electric bill? , to help save money on electric bills during the summer. In addition to the tips, the offers products and services available for year-round energy efficiency upgrades at little to no cost.

#5

On April 12, 1923, Harvey Couch officially chartered The Mississippi Power & Light Company, which later became Entergy Mississippi. A century later, , and a commitment to pack 100,000 meals for families impacted by food scarcity. The centennial theme kicked-off with 100 employee volunteers gathering for the first red beans and rice meal packing event at the Mississippi Agriculture Museum. ��

#4

The first half of 2023 is marked with heroic recovery efforts from historic storms across our service territory. While boots were on the ground, Entergy Mississippi awarded grants to nearly 100 nonprofits – demonstrating a commitment to the communities it serves. The grants awarded in the first half of the year totaled more than $600,000, and a made a difference through education and workforce development, poverty solutions and environmental programs.

#3

The March 24 tornadoes that flattened parts of the Mississippi Delta changed the community forever. An EF-4 tornado destroyed nearly 300 homes, and more than 700 service and secondary poles. Because seeking assistance from governmental agencies after a disaster can sometimes be a frustrating and confusing process, . The company partnered with��, a national disaster recovery organization, to train more than 150 employees on the FEMA appeal process. Customers can sign up to receive assistance by calling 800-276-9511.

#2

at the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi Summit in January. Kids to College, powered by Entergy, in partnership with the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, announced a $60,000 contribution to help low- and moderate-income Mississippi families establish child savings accounts. The Kids to College my529 account allows families to put money away to start saving for their children to attend a two- or four-year college, trade school or technical school.

#1

As a leader in helping advance the support for education and workforce development in the state, the company extended the legacy with two major gifts totaling $500,000. Entergy Mississippi committed to contributing $250,000 over five years to help fund the renovation of the����on the campus of Mississippi College in Clinton, and $250,000 over five years to the Foundation for Mississippi History to support a new initiative by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The initiative will transform the����campus in Washington, Mississippi.

Editorial team favorite

Acknowledging that telling Mississippi’s history would be incomplete without the story of Medgar Evers and his efforts.��Entergy proudly contributed $100,000 to the preservation of the Medgar and Myrlie Evers Home National Monument. The contribution was made possible through Entergy’s Social Justice and Equity Fund, which advances social justice and equity for historically underserved communities across Entergy’s service territory.��It was the second major grant awarded through the fund and the first in Mississippi.

Those words were spoken by the late Wayne Leonard during Entergy’s inaugural Low-Income Summit in New Orleans in 1999. Earlier that year, Entergy’s new president and CEO had joined President Clinton and a delegation of CEOs and elected officials on a trip through the Mississippi Delta as part of Clinton’s “New Markets” initiative to improve the region’s economy.��

The experience hit home for Leonard, whose company served a large population of customers living in poverty.

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Within a few years, Entergy had formulated a new vision for the future that included a renewed commitment to do more for low-income customers. Today, Entergy is regarded as a leader in corporate social responsibility for providing solutions for low-income customers that address the root causes of poverty.

“Everybody knew Wayne Leonard was different,” said Lawrence Johnson, who retired in 2021 as Entergy Mississippi’s manager, public affairs. “He touched on something that employees really cared about—their communities—and gave them ways to get involved and give back. He shook up the fabric of the company, and it made a huge impact that can still be felt today.”

Assistance efforts continue to gain momentum

After Leonard retired in 2013, low-income efforts continued gaining momentum. In 2014, Entergy hosted the first poverty simulation in the U.S. Capitol for congressional staffers, members of Congress and nonprofit leaders. Since that time, the company has hosted more than 50 simulations that have helped key stakeholders throughout its service area better understand the plight of America’s working poor.

Since 2018, Entergy has delivered more than $100 million in economic benefits annually to local communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy. In 2023, Entergy was named one of the most community-minded companies in the U.S. for the eighth consecutive year for driving meaningful social impact in its service area. 

Years before Entergy’s low-income focus became a corporate priority, company leaders and employees in Mississippi had established a legacy of community service and customer support.��

In 1982, Mississippi Power & Light launched the “Concern” program in partnership with local communities to help customers with special economic needs. It eventually became The Power to Care, an Entergy-wide program that provides emergency bill-payment assistance for low-income elderly and disabled customers.

Entergy Mississippi employees and community volunteers also have weatherized scores of customer homes, mostly for low-income seniors, to increase energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. As part of the “Beat the Heat” program each summer, employee volunteers distribute box fans to elderly and disabled customers who lack adequate air conditioning.

Providing solutions for Mississippi families

Entergy Mississippi has always worked closely with customers who are experiencing economic hardships. Solutions include deferred payment plans that give customers more time to pay bills; and Level Billing, which averages bills over a rolling 12-month period so amounts are similar each month, making budgeting easier.��

By providing , Entergy Mississippi has helped eligible customers throughout its service area receive the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the most effective means of lifting Americans out of poverty. The company also works with Low Income Home ���ϳԹ��� Assistance Program or LIHEAP agencies which help customers get federal energy bill assistance.

Helping families build assets and achieve economic stability has been another strategy to reduce poverty. In January 2023, Entergy Mississippi partnered with the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi to launch , which enables families to establish savings accounts for their children to attend a two- or four-year college, trade school or technical school.

Those are just a few of the many ways that Entergy’s low-income outreach continues improving lives and futures in Mississippi.

“Some people assumed that the very necessary emphasis we put on low-income customers would disappear—that it was a fad,” Johnson said. “Now it’s a normal part of doing business that has also strengthened other areas, like customer service, economic development and diversity and inclusion. Today, the company has closer relationships with customers and communities and is more responsive to their needs. I think employees take pride in being part of a company that does so much to help others.”