Entergy Shareholders Donate $355,000 for Community Agencies to Support Isaac Victims

BATON ROUGE, La., Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In the wake of Hurricane Isaac's damaging winds and flooding, Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. are joining community partners to support Isaac relief efforts as well as expanding their own bill-assistance programs to help customers affected by the storm.

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"Now is the time to focus on our customers, our neighbors and our communities as they continue to struggle to return their lives to normalcy and to overcome the financial difficulty this hurricane has caused," said Bill Mohl, president and chief executive officer of Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana. "Our communities are not getting the level of national outpouring of aid and assistance as in the past. This makes this a local challenge that only neighbors helping neighbors can fix."

Helping communities rebuild and recover with food and financial assistance

Entergy's $355,000 donation to the United Way will provide service referrals/case-management services, food assistance, and rebuilding assistance for impacted families and individuals. The organizations that will benefit from the donation include Second Harvest of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, Our Daily Bread, Catholic Charities and the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank. They will provide food assistance for families south of the lake, on the Northshore and in Baton Rouge respectively. The United Way of Southeast Louisiana and American Red Cross of Southeast Louisiana will provide shelter, counseling and housing assistance to the hurricane victims. St. Bernard Project will provide rebuilding assistance for families who lost their homes in the storm. 

"Once again, Entergy has stepped forward in a time of great need. As families struggle to recover from Hurricane Isaac, Entergy's investment in United Way and our community-impact partners will aid us in our efforts to rebuild lives and communities affected by the storm," said G. Gary Ostroske, president and chief executive officer of United Way of Southeast Louisiana.

"St. Bernard Project believes that citizens deserve a prompt, efficient and predictable path to recovery," said Zack Rosenburg, Esq., director of the St. Bernard Project. "With Entergy's continued partnership and support, SBP will work to ensure that Isaac-impacted families are delivered this promise."

Entergy's bill assistance program expanded for Isaac victims

Since Aug. 29, Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana have been working with customers impacted by Hurricane Isaac to help ease post-storm financial burdens by offering a number of bill payment-assistance options. In support of a request by the region's Louisiana Public Service Commissioners Lambert Boissiere III and Eric Skrmetta, Entergy is expanding and extending several bill payment-assistance programs through Oct. 15.

Upon customer request in south Louisiana Isaac-impacted areas, Entergy will:

• extend the bill due date 30 days;
• waive late fees through Oct. 15;
• Eliminate non-payment disconnections for 30 days.

In addition to these intermediate bill-relief options, a special bill-deferral program is being implemented for customers facing long-term issues due to the severe flooding brought on by the slow-moving storm.

Victims impacted by flooding from Hurricane Isaac (Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa and Washington parishes) also can take advantage of a special payment program that will allow them to defer one-third of their bill for up to six months, with up to 12 months to repay any amounts deferred through the program.

Customers should either work with their local charities, contact Entergy at 1-800-ENTERGY or visit www.entergylouisiana.com for information about these bill payment-assistance programs.

For more information about how to qualify and apply for need-based assistance from the charitable agencies, visit www.entergylouisiana.com for links to the partnering agencies.

Entergy's Louisiana utility companies serve more than one million customers through the operating companies Entergy Louisiana, LLC and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C. With operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana, the companies are part of Entergy Corporation's electric system serving 2.8 million customers in Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas.

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SOURCE Entergy Corporation