<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy
Corporation financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000065984
<NAME> ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 023
   <NAME> ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   18,280,002
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    956,979
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       2,995,156
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     4,916,425
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              27,148,562
<COMMON>                                         2,378
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    4,410,325
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,345,917
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               7,090,129
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          200,237
<PREFERRED>                                    345,954
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         9,422,701
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             567,811
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  412,332
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    277,012
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               152,077
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               9,011,818
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               27,148,562
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,045,753
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            67,029
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,673,535
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,673,535
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        372,218
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              20,426
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 392,644
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       199,130
<NET-INCOME>                                   109,762
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     16,723
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  109,762
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         486,065
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0