<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from System 
Energy, Inc. financial statements for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 
and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000202584
<NAME> SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 018
   <NAME> SYSTEM ENERGY RESOURCES, INC.
<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>                    2,556,342
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     66,922
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         295,027
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<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,450,404
<COMMON>                                       789,350
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             59,333
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 848,683
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,418,969
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   10,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     46,719
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                28,000
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,098,033
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,450,404
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      155,662
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            19,313
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      81,346
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                      81,346
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                         74,316
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               1,603
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                  75,919
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        32,261
<NET-INCOME>                                    24,345
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   24,345
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          69,839
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0