Entergy_Statement_Japan

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Date: March 14, 2011

For Release: Immediate

Contact: Chanel Lagarde (Media)(504) [email protected]

Entergy Statement Regarding Recent Events in Japan

New Orleans, La. – Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) and its employees express their

deepest sympathies to the people of Japan during this difficult time. Entergy’s nuclear

employees are closely monitoring the situation in coordination with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory

Commission, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations and

industry peers. Working through NEI, we have offered our support and assistance to the

Japanese nuclear industry.

Entergy’s nuclear plants were designed and built to withstand the effects of natural

disasters, including earthquakes and catastrophic flooding. The NRC requires that safety-

significant structures, systems and components be designed to take into account the most severe

natural phenomena historically reported for each site and surrounding area. In determining the

appropriate standards, the NRC includes an added safety margin to ensure that the standards

take into account the risk that a future event, such as an earthquake or flooding, could be more

severe than any recorded historical event. Systems are designed with multiple contingent backup

systems to provide greater safety margins.

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Entergy Corporation

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Entergy News ReleasePage 2 of 3March 14, 2011

In addition to stringent design and construction standards, Entergy and other nuclear

operators conduct ongoing programs to ensure plant safety. These programs, which are closely

monitored and evaluated by the NRC, include:

• Ongoing risk analysis and design enhancements to address natural and man-made

risks.

• Extensive operator training in preparation for extreme conditions, along with drills

and evaluations by the NRC.

• The development and implementation of emergency response plans aimed at

protecting public health and safety (such as those put in place following Hurricane

Katrina); these plans are regularly exercised in cooperation with local, state and

federal agencies.

There will be lessons learned from this tragic event. Incorporating those lessons into

operating experience is a hallmark of the global nuclear industry. It is worth noting that the

natural environment surrounding the nuclear plants in Japan is very different from the

environment surrounding Entergy’s nuclear plants. According to information provided to us by

NEI, and generally common knowledge in the scientific community, Japan is more susceptible

to frequent and intense earthquakes than other developed countries. While it is still early, it

appears that the nuclear units’ safety systems functioned properly after the initial effects of the

earthquake in Japan. Reports suggest it was the overwhelming tsunami that severely damaged

the plant’s cooling capabilities and recovery efforts.

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Entergy News ReleasePage 3 of 3March 14, 2011

Risk management is an ongoing practice at Entergy, including mitigating environmental,

security, safety and mechanical risks, to name a few. The company understands and appreciates

that these forces, natural and man-made, require constant vigilance and preparation for the

unexpected. Accordingly, the company will continue to monitor closely the situation in Japan,

and lessons will be learned and translated to even greater safety and effectiveness to meet the

challenges of the most adverse and unexpected events, creating stronger public confidence in

U.S. nuclear programs.

More information on the nuclear industry and events in Japan can be found at

www.nei.org.

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 15,000 employees.

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Additional investor information can be accessed online at

www.entergy.com.

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Entergy_Statement_Japan