Little Rock, Ark. – Starting July 1, Entergy Arkansas, Inc. residential customers will see a 22 percent decrease in electricity rates as compared to July 2009.
The lower rates will result in a $24 savings on a bill for 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. The rate decrease is a result of lower fuel costs, both current and as projected through the end of 2010.

A residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours will pay $85.39 starting July 1, about what customers were paying in July of 1986. Last July, residential customers were paying $110.03.

“This is good news for our customers as we move into the hot summer months,” said Oscar Washington, customer service director of Entergy Arkansas, Inc. “The reduction in rates comes at the time of year when electricity bills are normally their highest. The lower rates will bring welcome relief during the coming months.”

The reduction in electricity rates is the result of a combination of lower fuel costs in 2009, continued efficient operation of power plants, and a sizeable reduction in the amount collected in the line item on customer bills described as “FERC-Imposed Payment (System Agreement).”

The 22 percent rate decrease includes the $63.7 million base rate increase the Arkansas Public Service Commission approved in a settlement on May 28.

Entergy Arkansas, Inc. provides electricity to almost 687,000 customers in 63 counties. 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.

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Twitter: @EntergyMediaArk