Exhibit 99(a)
Entergy Arkansas, Inc.
Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends
March 31,
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Fixed charges, as defined:
Total Interest Charges $96,685 $97,023 $101,600 $109,523 $103,210 $100,054
Interest applicable to rentals 15,511 17,289 16,449 14,563 12,762 12,650
-------------------------------------------------------
Total fixed charges, as defined 112,196 114,312 118,049 124,086 115,972 112,704
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 16,763 17,836 13,479 12,348 11,869 12,506
-------------------------------------------------------
Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $128,959 $132,148 $131,528 $136,434 $127,841 $125,210
=======================================================
Earnings as defined:
Net Income $110,951 $69,313 $137,047 $178,185 $135,643 $139,949
Add:
Provision for income taxes:
Total 71,374 54,012 100,512 105,933 71,404 81,896
Fixed charges as above 112,196 114,312 118,049 124,086 115,972 112,704
-------------------------------------------------------
Total earnings, as defined $294,521 $237,637 $355,608 $408,204 $323,019 $334,549
=======================================================
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.63 2.08 3.01 3.29 2.79 2.97
=======================================================
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred dividends, as defined 2.28 1.80 2.70 2.99 2.53 2.67
=======================================================
- ------------------------
(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.