Entergy Corp. has announced its intent to join the MISO as a fully integrated transmission owning member. Entergy's integration would expand the MISO footprint to Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. The Entergy region will add about 15,000 miles of transmission lines and 30,000 MW of generation capacity to the MISO footprint. The new MISO footprint will extend from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

"We are pleased and humbled that Entergy has chosen to join MISO," said MISO CEO John Bear. "We look forward to working with Entergy, their regulators and others in the region to deliver the same value that our current members and their customers enjoy."

Independent analysis, as well as analysis completed by MISO, show that the Entergy region will benefit from joining MISO. These benefits flow from improved transmission reliability, more efficient use of existing electric system assets and a reduced need for future generation assets.

"Entergy's decision is largely based on the success of MISO's existing markets which will bring clear, measurable benefits to the combined region," said Bear.

The combined footprint also will benefit from increased electrical generation diversity. The MISO will feature an improved mix of generation assets, including coal, natural gas, nuclear, wind, biomass and other sources." The addition of Entergy's generation portfolio will bring more options to the region for the commitment and dispatch of energy," said Bear.

The move will need to be approved by elected officials and regulators in each of Entergy's jurisdictions. The Entergy operating companies are Entergy Arkansas, Inc., Entergy Gulf States Louisiana, L.L.C., Entergy Louisiana, LLC, Entergy Mississippi, Inc., Entergy New Orleans, Inc. and Entergy Texas, Inc. The integration has a targeted implementation data of December 2013.