Exhibit 99
For Immediate Release December 2, 2003
Statement of the SeTrans Sponsors
Over two years ago, we began a process to voluntarily develop the
SeTrans Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) with common goals: to address
regional concerns about wholesale power markets in accordance with FERC's Order
2000; to produce net benefits for consumers in the Southeast; and to continue to
provide the highly reliable electric service they have come to expect. We
believe that FERC and retail regulators in the region share these general goals.
Since the beginning of the process, several of the SeTrans Sponsors
have been clear that their participation in SeTrans required the approval of
applicable public service commissions under governing state laws, as well as the
approval of the FERC. The retail commissions in the region have expressed
significant concerns about the role of an RTO and its effects on matters subject
to their jurisdiction, including concerns about native load protection and cost
impacts. They have expressed these concerns in numerous public forums, letters
to FERC and to Congress, and in SEARUC resolutions. In recent weeks, it has
become increasingly apparent that most of the public service commissions
continue to have these concerns.
The jurisdictional Sponsors have now concluded that it is highly
unlikely that consensus support and acceptance for the SeTrans RTO will be
forthcoming from all applicable state and federal agencies. In light of this
determination, the Sponsors have decided unanimously to suspend the SeTrans
effort. While we are suspending our efforts, we believe that the SeTrans
proposal contains much valuable work and could serve as an ultimate roadmap for
future efforts in the region.
Suspending our efforts on SeTrans will allow Sponsors to explore
other alternatives that achieve the goals expressed above and also enhance the
likelihood of receiving support at both the state and federal levels.
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The SeTrans Sponsors are Cleco Power LLC, Dalton (GA) Utilities,
Entergy Corporation, Georgia Transmission Corporation, JEA -- Jacksonville (FL),
the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, Sam Rayburn G & T Electric
Cooperative, Inc., Southern Company and the City of Tallahassee (FL).
Cleco Power LLC is a principal subsidiary of Cleco Corporation, an
investor-owned regional energy services company. Cleco Power LLC serves
approximately 250,000 customers and maintains 1,200 miles of transmission lines.
Dalton Utilities is a full-service utility providing electric, water,
wastewater, natural gas and telecommunications services to the city of Dalton,
Ga., and portions of Whitfield, Murray, Gordon, Floyd and Catoosa counties in
Georgia, including approximately $52 million in transmission assets and 352
miles of transmission lines.
Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) is a global energy company with more
than 23,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in four states in the
Southeast, approximately $3 billion in transmission investment and 15,000 miles
of transmission lines, serving 2.6 million customers. It is one of the largest
producers of electricity in the United States.
Georgia Transmission Corporation is a not-for-profit cooperative
established for the sole purpose of providing transmission services to its
members. GTC is owned by 39 Electric Membership Corporations in Georgia. GTC
owns over $1 billion in assets, including 2,500 miles of transmission lines and
over 500 substations across the state of Georgia and serves over 1.4 million
end-use customers.
JEA, formerly known as Jacksonville Electric Authority, is a
municipally owned electric supplier serving 360,000 customers in a four-county
area of northeast Florida, including approximately $253 million in transmission
assets and 714 miles of transmission lines.
Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia (MEAG Power) is a joint-action
state authority providing wholesale electric generation and transmission to 49
city or county owned electric systems in Georgia. MEAG Power is one of the
largest public power entities in the United States, including approximately $214
million in transmission assets and 1,224 miles of transmission lines.
Sam Rayburn G & T Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Sam Rayburn) is a
non-profit wholesale electric power cooperative serving the power requirements
of three distribution cooperatives and their 250,000 retail consumers in east
Texas. Sam Rayburn has approximately $41 million in transmission assets and 220
miles of transmission lines.
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a super-regional energy company with
more than 35,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity in the Southeast,
approximately $4 billion in transmission investment and 26,000 miles of
transmission lines, serving 4 million customers. It is one of the largest
producers of electricity in the United States.
City of Tallahassee maintains more than 2,200 miles of transmission and
distribution lines, serving some 98,000 homes and businesses in the Tallahassee,
Fla., area, including approximately $51 million in transmission assets and 185
miles of transmission lines.
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News Media Contacts:
Lori McDaniel, City of Dalton Utilities
(706) 281-1032
Ann Jenkins, Cleco Corporation
(318) 484-7129
Larry Daspit, Entergy
(281) 297-3322
Tom Parker, Georgia Transmission Corporation
(770) 270-7528
Bruce Dugan, JEA
(904) 665-6232
Frank Crane, MEAG Power
(770) 563-1248
Fred Ritts, Sam Rayburn
(202) 342-0800
Mike Tyndall, Southern Company
(404) 506-5333 or 1-866-506-5333
Kevin Wailes, City of Tallahassee
(850) 891-5532