The information first published in the Aug. 31 Arkansas Democrat Gazette contains a serious and careless mathematical error. The calculation accounts for only 12 months of payments rather than the full twenty-year term of the agreement—a fact that was known to the paper but not included in its math. Using the figures published in the article—$443 million plus $83 million minimum annually over 20 years—the total would be approximately $2.103 billion, not the amount reported. That distinction is significant. In fact, as demonstrated by the evidence submitted to the Arkansas Public Service Commission, Google is not only paying its cost to serve but is delivering $1.1 billion in other benefits to Arkansas customers.

Google’s financial contributions to expand and improve the Arkansas power grid are substantial. As we have stated publicly regarding Google’s contract—and as state officials who regulate utilities and protect the public interest have reviewed—the agreement includes important protections for existing customers:

• Google is paying for 100% of its power needs and more.

• Google’s contract includes termination penalties and guarantees designed to protect other customers.

• Google is making monthly payments for the full 20-year term, providing long-term protection for other customers.

• Just as other customers do, Google also is contributing to fixed costs, so that other customers pay less.

The benefits from the Google contract align with our Fair Share Plus Pledge and the federal Ratepayer Protection Pledge and provide the single largest benefit to all other existing customers in Entergy Arkansas’s history.

While Google’s electricity contract may be confidential to newspapers, it is NOT confidential to the public officials who regulate state utilities and protect the public interest, including the Arkansas Public Service Commission and its Staff and the Arkansas Attorney General.

Despite the improper release of confidential information and bad math, the article did make one important fact clear: Google’s addition to the Arkansas power grid will provide a significant benefit to all customers by lowering overall system costs and delivering more than $1.1 billion in net benefits to Arkansas customers. Google is fully committed to covering 100% of the power and infrastructure costs associated with its West Memphis data center. Its upfront payments and ongoing monthly payments under the 20-year agreement will fully fund its operational footprint.

We will never waver when it comes to protecting our customers’ privacy and confidential information. It is both the right thing to do and required by law. We protect all customer information—whether it involves a household, a local manufacturer, or a global company.