<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy
Arkansas' financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000007323
<NAME> ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 001
   <NAME> ENTERGY ARKANSAS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1997
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,802,790
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    266,725
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         637,457
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       399,905
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               4,106,877
<COMMON>                                           470
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                      590,134
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            479,705
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,070,309
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                           91,027
<PREFERRED>                                    116,350
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,244,860
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                 667
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   60,650
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     83,841
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                62,623
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,376,550
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                4,106,877
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    1,715,714
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            59,220
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,448,839
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,448,839
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        266,875
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                              22,226
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 289,101
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       101,904
<NET-INCOME>                                   127,977
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     10,988
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                  116,989
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                       128,600
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      101,839
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         433,740
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0