Post-Katrina Billing Procedures

On August 29, 2005 Entergy New Orleans discontinued a number of its normal billing procedures, including the suspension of late fees and service interruption for nonpayment, to help customers through the recovery period. Because electricity and gas service is now available in a vast majority of the service area, the Hurricane Katrina Relief Credit was suspended in January and Entergy New Orleans resumed its normal billing practices on January 13, 2006.

The following information is designed to help you identify how the return to normal billing may affect your account and the options available to minimize any financial impact to you.

• Customers receiving electric and gas service in New Orleans are being billed for actual energy consumption, in addition to any unpaid charges.

• Entergy New Orleans’ collection activities have resumed. Accounts with outstanding balances receive a payment reminder and subsequently may begin receiving notices of possible disconnection of service approximately one month later depending on their normal billing date and the amount owed.

• Customers that have an active account with Entergy New Orleans but are not receiving electric or gas service will receive a Minimum Bill, regardless of the condition of the property.

• Customers may consider closing their account to avoid additional charges such as Minimum Bills if they do not expect to be able to receive electric or gas service safely in the near future.

• Entergy New Orleans has sent its customers letters and bill messages notifying them of the status of their account and alternatives available to help avoid additional charges.

Customers with extensive damage awaiting property repairs:

• Because electric or gas service is available to customers who can safely take service, a Minimum Bill charge will appear on customer bills to keep the account active.

• Once the New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits has certified that the property is safe to receive electric or gas service, or the customer uses the FastTrack permit process, service will be restored and regular meter reading and billing will occur.

• Customers may consider closing their account to avoid additional charges if they do not expect their property to receive electric or gas service in the near future.

 Customers whose meters have been removed by Entergy:

• For the safety of our customers and their property, Entergy has removed meters on certain accounts where damage was visibly extensive and/or a potential safety hazard existed.

• Customers making repairs to their home and requiring gas and/or electric service should call 1-800-ENTERGY to request a meter installation. A permit must be issued by the New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits, or the customer may choose to use the FastTrack permit process, to certify that the property is safe to receive electric or gas service before the meter is installed.

• For the majority of customers with meters removed and no payment or customer guidance has been received since August 29, 2005, Entergy New Orleans has closed their account effective March 29, 2006. Entergy New Orleans has applied remaining deposits to outstanding balance, and is in the process of refunding the remainder, if applicable.