Las Vegas, Nev. – Entergy Corporation’s superior operational and financial results, as well as increased productivity and shareholder returns, today earned it the electric power industry's highest honor, the Edison Award, for the second time.
 

Entergy also won the 2002 Edison Award for business leadership and nuclear operational excellence.
 

“Because of Entergy’s strong commitment to customers and shareholders alike, coupled with their willingness to develop and implement innovative business strategies, it is clear that their success is a direct result of two of this industry’s hallmarks—vision and ingenuity,” said Edison Electric Institute President Thomas R. Kuhn. “Entergy’s rare ability to anticipate what lies ahead and successfully adapt to a constantly changing industry is what sets them apart.”
 

After turning the company around with its Back to Basics strategy in 1998, Entergy is now deploying an aggressive strategy to move Beyond the Basics. Building on improved productivity and shareholder return, the company also made significant investments in its core utility operations. This led to lower costs and reduced environmental impact, as well as improvements in customer service, reliability, and safety.
 

“Today’s award affirms that Entergy is more than a ‘turnaround’ story. It recognizes that our employees have gone beyond the basics to continuous improvement and beyond best practices to next practices,” said J. Wayne Leonard, Entergy’s chief executive officer. “It is truly an honor and a testament to our employees to be presented with the 2005 Edison Award.”
 

Entergy’s success has been demonstrated through its outstanding nuclear operations, leadership in new nuclear licensing and superior productivity in its unregulated fleet. Moreover, the company’s solid commitment to environmental stewardship and its leadership in helping low-income customers earned Entergy this prestigious honor.
 

Given annually by the EEI, the prestigious prize is bestowed upon the U. S. shareholder-owned and international members that have made significant contributions to the advancement of the industry. A panel of academics and past and current EEI chairmen select the finalists and ultimate winners. This year's award, the 77th, was presented today at EEI's annual convention.
 

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 $10 billion and approximately 14,000 employees.

-30-
Entergy's online address is www.entergy.com.