Some Entergy customers will be getting a small, one-time break on their bill.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission has approved a refund for customers of Entergy Louisiana and Entergy Gulf States Louisiana.
Those two companies are also asking the commission for permission to merge into a single utility.
Entergy Louisiana services New Orleans suburbs north to Monroe. Entergy Gulf States Louisiana services customers from Baton Rouge west to the Texas state line. They have about 900,000 customers combined.
Company officials say the merger is needed to make investments in the state's utility infrastructure.
Meantime, commission authorized the refunds yesterday. They will show on customers' bills starting at the end of October.
The credit to the average residential customer will be about $16.75 for an Entergy Gulf States Louisiana customer, and $7.50 for an Entergy Louisiana customer.