<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy Gulf
States' financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000044570
<NAME> ENTERGY GULF STATES
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 006
   <NAME> ENTERGY GULF STATES
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    4,576,262
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     85,771
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         824,734
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       988,570
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,475,337
<COMMON>                                       114,055
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,152,575
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            371,772
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,689,846
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           75,210
<PREFERRED>                                     51,444
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,878,048
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  150,865
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     69,225
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                39,639
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,572,504
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,475,337
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      957,749
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                                 0
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     789,092
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     789,092
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        168,657
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              10,040
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 178,697
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        89,400
<NET-INCOME>                                    59,563
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     13,938
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   45,625
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                             0
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                            0
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         213,513
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0