Exhibit 99(b)
Entergy Gulf States, Inc.
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
Twelve Months Ended
Sept 30,
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
Fixed charges, as defined:
Total Interest charges $180,073 $178,220 $153,034 $158,949 $174,368 $149,012
Interest applicable to rentals 15,747 16,927 16,451 18,307 18,520 17,918
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Total fixed charges, as defined 195,820 195,147 169,485 177,256 192,888 166,930
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 30,028 32,031 29,355 15,742 13,017 13,062
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Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $225,848 $227,178 $198,840 $192,998 $205,905 $179,992
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Earnings as defined:
Income (loss) from continuing operations before
extraordinary items and
the cumulative effect of accounting changes $59,976 $46,393 $125,000 $180,343 $179,444 $174,426
Add:
Income Taxes 22,402 31,773 75,165 103,603 82,038 88,099
Fixed charges as above 195,820 195,147 169,485 177,256 192,888 166,930
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Total earnings, as defined (b) $278,198 $273,313 $369,650 $461,202 $454,370 $429,455
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 1.42 1.40 2.18 2.60 2.36 2.57
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Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred dividends, as defined 1.23 1.20 1.86 2.39 2.21 2.39
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(a) "Preferred dividends," as defined by SEC regulation S-K, are computed by
dividing the preferred dividend requirement by one hundred percent
(100%) minus the income tax rate.