Entergy 2008 Annual Report Download - page 13

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conventional coal plants, the single largest source of CO2 emissions worldwide.
We believe that finding an affordable post-combustion, carbon-capture solution
for conventional coal plants should be a central goal of U.S. policy-making action.
Our environmental strategies and our efforts to address climate change have
earned recognition from a number of distinguished environmental organizations.
In addition to being named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, we
also were named to the prestigious Climate Disclosure Leadership Index in
2008, the fifth consecutive year we have received this recognition, and the SAM
Sustainability Yearbook, which recognizes the top 15 percent of companies in
each sector worldwide.
Meeting the Low-Income Challenge
Approximately 25 percent of our 2.7 million utility customers fall below the
poverty level. We created our low-income customer assistance initiative in 1999 to
address this reality. Today, as a result of the economic crisis, the needs are greater
than ever, with a growing number of new at-risk Entergy customers who need
assistance. Entergy’s commitment to its low-income customers takes many
forms – from improving the flow of funds through bill payment assistance, to
helping needy customers better manage energy use, to funding education, job
training and programs that help low-income families build assets and move
towards self-sufficiency.
In 2008, we continued to advocate for increased funding for the federal Low
Income Home Energy Assistance Program and a more equitable distribution of
those funds to the states the Entergy utility companies serve. In 2008, LIHEAP
funding to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas increased by $3.1 million,
up 3 percent over 2007.
In addition, Entergy along with its employees and customers raised more than
$2.3 million in local bill payment assistance funds in 2008. One hundred percent
of the funds raised go to customers who need help to pay their utility bills.
Entergy Charitable Foundation supports programs that address the underlying
causes of poverty. In 2008, approximately $4.6 million was awarded through grants
to nonprofit organizations that serve the communities where we live and work.
Entergy is also there for its customers in the worst of times, reaching out when
customers are struggling in the wake of natural disasters. After two devastating
storms last fall, one of Entergy’s goals was to work with its community partners to
reach out to customers who needed the most help getting back on their feet.
In December, the Entergy Hurricane Relief Fund announced $700,000 in grants
to 39 Louisiana and Texas nonprofits helping victims of hurricanes Gustav and
Ike rebuild their lives and communities.
ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES 2008
We are not satisfied with
the total shareholder return
we delivered in 2008. We
remain committed to our
aspiration to continually
deliver top-quartile, positive
shareholder return as we
have done over the past
10 years.
Total Shareholder Return
2008, %
ETR
Philadelphia
Utility Index
S&P 500
-28.3
-27.2
-37.0
Total Shareholder Return
12/31/1998 – 12/31/2008, %
ETR
Philadelphia
Utility Index
S&P 500
268.7
70.3
-13.0
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