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, 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Fixed charges, as defined: Interest on long-term debt $120,317 $107,771 $101,439 $102,339 $93,852 $93,463 Interest on notes payable 117 349 1,311 678 688 660 Amortization of expense and premium on debt-net(cr) 1,359 2,702 4,563 4,514 4,679 4,684 Other interest 2,308 8,769 3,501 7,806 5,570 5,499 Dividends on preferred securities of subsidiary trust -- -- -- -- 1,927 3,202 Interest applicable to rentals 17,657 16,860 19,140 18,158 19,121 17,051 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Total fixed charges, as defined 141,758 136,451 129,954 133,495 125,837 124,559 Preferred dividends, as defined (a) 32,195 30,334 23,234 27,636 24,731 22,109 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined $173,953 $166,785 $153,188 $161,131 $150,568 $146,668 ====================================================================== Earnings as defined: Net Income $130,529 $205,297 $142,263 $136,666 $157,798 148,378 Add: Provision for income taxes: Federal & State 57,089 58,162 83,300 105,964 128,982 127,600 Deferred - net 3,490 34,748 (17,939) (28,225) (39,772) (43,236) Investment tax credit adjustment - net (9,989) (10,573) (36,141) (5,658) (4,765) (4,714) Fixed charges as above 141,758 136,451 129,954 133,495 125,837 124,559 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Total earnings, as defined $322,877 $424,085 $301,437 $342,242 $368,080 $352,587 ====================================================================== Ratio of earnings to fixed charges, as defined 2.28 3.11 2.32 2.56 2.93 2.83 ====================================================================== Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividends, as defined 1.86 2.54 1.97 2.12 2.44 2.40 ====================================================================== - ------------------------ (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.