Entergy plans 1% rate hike in 2009 if legislation OK’d

The Clarion-Ledger, 2/26/8

Entergy officials said Monday they hope to seek a rate increase in 2009 if legislation is approved that eventually could allow utility companies to charge ratepayers before some plants are built.

Rates would be hiked 1 percent during the preconstruction phase of Entergy’s $5 billion nuclear plant, officials said Monday at a meeting with The Clarion-Ledger editorial board. They said they didn’t know how much rates would rise during construction .

Building an additional nuclear plant next to Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson would make future costs of electricity more affordable than relying on natural gas, officials said.