FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 29-MAY-2007
Contact Bill Robertson, 318 423-0506

LPSC Promotes Higher Lake Level at Toledo Bend Lake

BATON ROUGE, 29 May 2007 — At the urging of Commissioner Foster Campbell, the Louisiana Public Service Commission has made a higher lake level at Toledo Bend Lake a priority over hydropower production.

Meeting in Baton Rouge last week, the commission voted unanimously to raise the minimum lake stage for power production from 162.2 feet to 168 feet.

“This decision by the Public Service Commission means the power plant will shut down when the lake hits 168 feet, rather than the previous minimum power pool of 162.2 feet,” Campbell said.

“I’m pleased the PSC, working with the utility companies and the Sabine River Authority of Louisiana, has reached this historic compromise with the people living in the Toledo Bend region.

“What we have done is acknowledge the tremendous economic importance to west Louisiana and east Texas of a healthy Toledo Bend Lake.”

The SRA of Louisiana and its Texas counterpart jointly operate the power plant at Toledo Bend Dam. Entergy and CLECO have long-term contracts with the lake authorities to purchase the power from the plant.

Drought conditions in the Sabine River watershed in recent years have caused lake levels to drop just as demand for the dam’s hydropower has peaked. The SRA, responding to dropping lake levels and input from nearby residents and business owners, petitioned Campbell and the PSC to follow guidance from the Legislature and make preserving a higher lake level a priority over power production.

“The people and business owners of the Toledo Bend region have been arguing for years about the importance of the lake to the economy of this region. Their arguments have been heard,” Campbell said.

In February of this year, at Campbell’s urging, the PSC held its first-ever meeting in Sabine Parish at Cypress Bend Conference Center.