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
March 31,
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
Fixed charges, as defined:
Total Interest charges $178,220 $153,034 $158,949 $174,368 $144,840 $147,627
Interest applicable to rentals 16,927 16,451 18,307 18,520 16,483 16,849
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Total fixed charges, as defined 195,147 169,485 177,256 192,888 161,323 164,476
Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 32,031 29,355 15,742 13,017 6,190 5,902
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Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $227,178 $198,840 $192,998 $205,905 $167,513 $170,378
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Earnings as defined:
Income (loss) from continuing operations before
extraordinary items and the cumulative effect of
accounting changes
$46,393 $125,000 $180,343 $179,444 $174,078 $179,165
Add:
Income Taxes 31,773 75,165 103,603 82,038 65,997 62,369
Fixed charges as above 195,147 169,485 177,256 192,888 161,323 164,476
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Total earnings, as defined (b) $273,313 $369,650 $461,202 $454,370 $401,398 $406,010
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 1.40 2.18 2.60 2.36 2.49 2.47
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Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred dividends, as defined 1.20 1.86 2.39 2.21 2.40 2.38
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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.