Feb 28 - Brattleboro Reformer, Vt.



Entergy's tactics in Vermont bear a startling similarity to its actions in Mississippi said Jim Hood, that state's attorney general, where the company is facing a lawsuit in which Hood has claimed it is guilty of fraud, unjust enrichment, anti-trust violations and other illegal conduct.

During court proceedings, which were initiated in December 2008, Entergy first denied it had overcharged Louisiana ratepayers through a bid-rigging scheme. Then it admitted to the practice but claimed that the effect on ratepayers was minimal at best.

"It doesn't surprise me at all that they lied to regulators in Vermont," Hood told the Reformer on Friday. "If they would lie about hazardous nuclear waste, why wouldn't they lie about padding their bills down here? Their reputation for truth and veracity is not good."

In Louisiana, Entergy was ordered to return $106 million to ratepayers for overcharging customers since 1974. Entergy is also facing similar allegations in Texas and Arkansas, said Hood.

 Hood sent a letter to Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell on Friday, contending that Entergy had "wrongfully transferred" $1.3 billion from its regulated utilities to its "troubled nuclear program."

Hood's office learned that Entergy had transferred the money after Entergy filed its 4th Quarter 2009 Earnings Report.

"When our ratepayers are paying their light bills each month, they should not have to

worry that their dollars are headed to Vermont to pay for a leaking nuclear reactor," wrote Hood. "That money should be returned to Mississippi ratepayers."

Hood said in light of the investigation into statements made last May before the Vermont Public Service Board about the extent of buried piping at Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon, Entergy's reasons for the transfer should also be investigated.

Sorrell is conducting a criminal investigation into the statements made by Entergy representatives.

The Conservation Law Foundation and the Vermont Public Interest Group have asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to launch his own criminal investigation, saying Entergy "carelessly disregarded obligations to maintain and provide accurate information on critical power plant systems."

"If this type of misinformation and these false statements can happen in Vermont, it can happen in Mississippi -- and we believe it already has," said Hood.

Hood told the Reformer he wants Entergy to answer four questions:

What is the source of the $1.3 billion?

What is the intended purpose of the cash?

Does Entergy plan to use any portion of the $1.3 billion to pay for the decommissioning of its "malfunctioning nuclear plants?"

If it does intend to use the money for decommissioning, which plants will receive the funds?

Bob Audette can be reached at raudette@reformer.com, or at 802-254-2311, ext. 273.

-----

To see more of the Brattleboro Reformer or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.reformer.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, Brattleboro Reformer, Vt.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

(c) 2010, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services