Dear Entergy Arkansas Customer,

I’m reaching out directly to you to correct some inaccurate information published in the news this week regarding Google, specifically when it comes to how much they’re paying toward the Arkansas Cypress Solar facility.

We understand there is angst about data centers coming to our state and the potential effects to our communities. This is about ensuring you have accurate information about what is happening in your neighborhoods where we are privileged to serve our customers.

The truth is simple: Google is making a significant investment that benefits all Arkansas customers and is paying 100% of its power needs, and more. The agreement is expected to deliver $1.1 billion in benefits to customers and will result in utility rates that are lower than what they otherwise would be.

Here’s what the agreement with Google means for you as an Entergy Arkansas customer:

• The contract includes substantial termination penalties and guarantees to protect other customers.
• Google is making monthly payments for the full 20-year term, providing long-term protection for all customers.
• Google contributes to fixed costs, so other customers pay less.

You can read more about Entergy Arkansas’s Fair Share Plus pledge that’s in place for this very reason – to protect and benefit our entire customer base.

The reports understated Google’s payments toward the solar facility. The figures published in the news do not reflect the full amount that Google will pay under its contract with Entergy Arkansas. Using the figures published — $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.

This can be likened to a car loan where you have the down payment (or upfront cost) and ongoing payments for the life of the loan (typically five years of ongoing payments). The same applies here: Imagine if the car dealer or financing company only counted your down payment and first year of payments toward the total amount owed.

You may also be wondering why we sought legal action to keep this information out of public view – because it is confidential customer information that was inadvertently shared outside of our control. If a news outlet was trying to publish your confidential data, just as was done here, we’d take action to safeguard your information. We take the protection of your information seriously not just because we are bound by state law to do so, but because it’s the right thing to do.

As always, we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable power to all our customers, today and for the next generation. Thank you for trusting Entergy Arkansas to serve your community.

Sincerely,

Laura Landreaux
President and CEO, Entergy Arkansas