<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy
Corporation and Subsidiaries financial statements for the quarter ended June 30,
1997 and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000065984
<NAME> ENTERGY CORPORATION
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 023
   <NAME> ENTERGY CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1996
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                   18,231,592
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    971,738
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                       3,072,099
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                     4,707,568
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              26,982,997
<COMMON>                                         2,407
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    4,477,900
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                          2,384,923
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               7,186,250
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          196,237
<PREFERRED>                                    345,954
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         9,524,296
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                             400,468
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  387,630
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                    260,922
<LEASES-CURRENT>                               152,206
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               8,850,054
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>               26,982,997
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    4,223,843
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,417,738
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   3,417,738
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        806,105
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              52,685
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 858,790
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       417,858
<NET-INCOME>                                   285,064
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     29,026
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  256,038
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         840,214
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0