JACKSON, Miss. (Legal Newsline) - Entergy Corp., facing a lawsuit from Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood, said Thursday it has been cleared of any improper charges to customers by an independent agency.

It was the third audit commissioned by the state's Public Service Commission in two years. In all three, Entergy says no evidence of improper charges was found.

Hood alleges in his lawsuit that Entergy Mississippi is buying gas at an inflated cost from the other Entergy companies and driving prices up for Mississippi consumers.

"We're pleased that all three of these independent, expert auditing firms have confirmed what we already know - that our 1,400 Mississippi employees work hard to bring reliable, affordable and safe electricity to our customers," said Haley Fisackerly, CEO of Entergy Mississippi.

"We take pride in the way we operate our business and take our obligation to serve very seriously, and we have for more than 85 years."

Hood has been sparring with Entergy since 2008, often through press releases.

In Feb. 2009, Entergy publicized a recently completed audit, and Hood said the company's conclusions regarding it weren't true.

McFadden Consulting Group conducted the most recent audit. Entergy says it "found that the processes and procedures utilized by Entergy in purchasing power help ensure that energy is procured for customers at the lowest practical costs."

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@gmail.com.