<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from Entergy Gulf
States' financial statements for the year ended December 31, 1997 and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000044570
<NAME> ENTERGY GULF STATES, INC.
<SUBSIDIARY>
   <NUMBER> 006
   <NAME> ENTERGY GULF STATES, 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>                    4,538,186
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                    364,415
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         735,208
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       850,828
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               6,488,637
<COMMON>                                       114,055
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                    1,152,575
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                            284,165
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>               1,550,795
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                          153,978
<PREFERRED>                                    201,444
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,702,719
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                  190,890
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     92,055
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                30,280
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               2,566,476
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                6,488,637
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                    2,147,829
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            22,402
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,617,283
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                   1,617,283
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        530,546
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                           (269,924)
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 260,622
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                       178,244
<NET-INCOME>                                    59,976
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                     23,865
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   36,111
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        77,200
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                      167,642
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                         466,324
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0