<ARTICLE> UT
<LEGEND>
This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from System
Energy Resources, Inc. financial statements for the quarter ended June 30, 
1998 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>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1998
<BOOK-VALUE>                                  PER-BOOK
<TOTAL-NET-UTILITY-PLANT>                    2,460,153
<OTHER-PROPERTY-AND-INVEST>                     99,102
<TOTAL-CURRENT-ASSETS>                         341,356
<TOTAL-DEFERRED-CHARGES>                       486,777
<OTHER-ASSETS>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               3,387,388
<COMMON>                                       789,350
<CAPITAL-SURPLUS-PAID-IN>                            0
<RETAINED-EARNINGS>                             62,149
<TOTAL-COMMON-STOCKHOLDERS-EQ>                 851,499
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-NET>                         1,274,272
<SHORT-TERM-NOTES>                                   0
<LONG-TERM-NOTES-PAYABLE>                            0
<COMMERCIAL-PAPER-OBLIGATIONS>                       0
<LONG-TERM-DEBT-CURRENT-PORT>                   70,000
<PREFERRED-STOCK-CURRENT>                            0
<CAPITAL-LEASE-OBLIGATIONS>                     46,651
<LEASES-CURRENT>                                36,156
<OTHER-ITEMS-CAPITAL-AND-LIAB>               1,108,810
<TOT-CAPITALIZATION-AND-LIAB>                3,387,388
<GROSS-OPERATING-REVENUE>                      292,942
<INCOME-TAX-EXPENSE>                            40,691
<OTHER-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     148,806
<TOTAL-OPERATING-EXPENSES>                     148,806
<OPERATING-INCOME-LOSS>                        144,136
<OTHER-INCOME-NET>                               6,693
<INCOME-BEFORE-INTEREST-EXPEN>                 150,829
<TOTAL-INTEREST-EXPENSE>                        60,772
<NET-INCOME>                                    49,366
<PREFERRED-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                          0
<EARNINGS-AVAILABLE-FOR-COMM>                   49,366
<COMMON-STOCK-DIVIDENDS>                        47,800
<TOTAL-INTEREST-ON-BONDS>                       61,012
<CASH-FLOW-OPERATIONS>                          93,171
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                        0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                        0