<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy
Arkansas' financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1996 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000007323
<NAME> ENTERGY ARKANSAS INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 001
   <NAME> ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
<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>                    2,850,520
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    219,543
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         595,396
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       488,358
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,153,817
<COMMON>                                           470
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      590,169
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            491,316
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,198,305
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           40,027
<PREFERRED>                                    116,350
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,255,388
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                 667
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   32,465
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     83,940
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                53,012
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,490,013
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,153,817
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,743,433
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            84,444
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,433,283
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,433,283
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        310,150
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              36,477
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 346,627
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       104,385
<NET-INCOME>                                   157,798
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     16,110
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  141,688
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       142,800
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         376,578
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0