<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy
Corporation's financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1996 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000065984
<NAME> ENTERGY CORPORATION
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 022
   <NAME> ENTERGY CORPORATION
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   16,223,123
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    930,073
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,362,533
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     3,450,565
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              22,966,294
<COMMON>                                         2,345
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    4,320,591
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,341,703
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               7,071,870
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          216,986
<PREFERRED>                                    430,955
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         7,590,804
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                              20,686
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  345,620
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    247,360
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               151,287
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               7,297,957
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               22,966,294
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    7,163,526
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                           421,159
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,484,805
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   5,484,805
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                      1,678,721
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                            (46,964)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>               1,631,757
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       790,571
<NET-INCOME>                                   420,027
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  420,027
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                       1,457,513
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0